Having been inspired by the lovely gardens on here, I decided that for my birthday this past weekend I'd ask my mom to help out with setting up a little potted plant garden on my boring, ugly brick/concrete balcony outside my apartment. She brought me an old baker's rack and some ceramic pots that she hadn't been using and we bought a window box and a bunch of flowers to go in them! Here are the results of my balcony "make-over":

Full view


My window box. We had do to some fancy rigging to attach it securely to the thin metal railing. It involved a 2x4, a pair of metal deck brackets specifically for window boxes but designed for wide wooden railings, and lots of zip-ties. I kept the little cards about each plant so I can learn to recognize them by name. There is yellow calibrachoa on each end, then two vinca vines, then a purple angelonia in the center.


My fiance loves roses, and we tried to keep a rose on the balcony before but Faolan ate it. This time I have my bike to create a barrier and keep him away from it.


On the top shelf of the bakers rack I have two gerber daisies. My mom insisted I get them, because everyone needs a few gerber daisies XD


On the second shelf I have a basil plant, some pretty blue lobelia I thought about putting in the window box and decided not to but I still wanted it, and some purple calibrachoa.


Third shelf contains rosemary, a geranium (another one that my mom said everyone needs.) , and a neat red and green leafy thing that gets purple flowers (I think it might be a hypoestes?).


We just repotted them all yesterday and I can't wait until they all fill out and flower!

That looks great! What an awesome way to spruce up your balcony. I really need to get off my butt and do some gardening...

I love the rack with all the flowers! i love the daises! im still holding out for my potted plants, maybe the weekend before my b-day i will do my hanging baskets as the threat of 40 degree weather should be done by then! you should paint the 2x 4 and then screw another plastic pot to it for more flowers and to hid the rigging (which i love that you figured it out!) cant wait to watch them grow, will you use the herbs you got?

I will try to use the herbs. I might make some tomato soup for the basil, and some salmon for the rosemary

I got one more random plant yesterday that I found on the clearance shelf and I thought it was too cute to pass up. It's called Flaming Katy. It has a ton of buds on it, can't wait to see it in full bloom. The flowers are like little mini roses, so cute!



Also, I found a blog about gardening in small spaces (such as apartment balconies) and there is a post about turning a pallet into a garden. I really want to try it!!


http://lifeonthebalcony.com/how-to-turn-a-pallet-into-a-garden/

Looking very nice! Apartment living?

I LOVE Calibrachoa, I had some last year potted in my flower cart.

Nice find on the Flaming Katy, I have one sitting next to the window in our master bath. It's tripled in size since I got it last summer. I like that it doesn't require as much water as all my other potted indoor plants.

Updates!


The yellow calibrachoa is finally getting some flowers on it!


The angelonia has decided to become a hanging plant instead of standing upright.


New bunch of flowers on the geranium. One of the old ones is dying off, I'll have to trim off the dead ones to make way for the new buds underneath.


Lots of opening flowers on the flaming katy!


My lobelia has gotten all flat. I think once I get a bigger pot (should be getting one in a few weeks free from my dad's garage) I will be moving it in with a bunch of others, and it should look better in an arrangement. LOVE the bright blue of the flowers, I think I'll pair it with purple. Maybe the purple calibrachoa next to it.

looking good!
love the pallet hanger!