… make better use of a small outdoor space?
#7
Having never spent so much time at home in my adult life, our very limited outdoor space has been appreciated more than ever. And neither had it bothered me so much for its clutter and lack of free space for putting out washing, sitting on and watching neighbourly goings on in the hope of some kind of Hitchcock-esque drama.
Having only a balcony, I realised a few years ago to prioritise edible plants or those with long-lasting colour. As a result, herbs are usually present (frequently replenished due in part to my usually being away quite a lot and not being able to water them AKA inability to focus attention on watering plants) and pelargoniums, which seem to be in constant bloom.
Before 
After
The balcony layout, even “after”, is not exemplary but it proved to me that a couple of enjoyable hours spent sitting outside pottering about, sweeping, weeding, re-potting and getting rid of bits of plastic and “stuff” that was just stored on the balcony was worth far more than the sense of *heavy sigh* chore I had about sorting it out.
My mum gave me a courgette plant, a neighbour left out some pumpkin plants for passers-by to take, a friend gave me a nasturtium plant (a different colour to the rampant orange I felt needed drastically cutting back) and the rest of the herbs are from seeds (thanks to my mum, again) or supermarkets. Other than plant and pot purchases over the years and the supermarket herbs, this little tidy-up cost me nothing.
So, while it probably just looks like a mini tidy-up, to me it provides a better view, more room, a comforting sense of the natural world in the midst of my urban surroundings and actually I feel rather proud of our balcony (complete with very cute solar-powered lights) … not that I have been checking out everyone else’s balcony.
I feel I should add some useful, if mildly depressing, warnings.
Spending two hours sitting cross-legged on the balcony and leaning at awkward angles carries with it a health warning for back and muscle exertion that not even a bath can alleviate and which then results in not entirely optimistic thoughts and conversation on the subject of ageing and increased aches and pains. Likewise, the wearing of Crocs may seem like a good idea, but shoes with holes, dry soil and inevitability of spilling water makes for messy and slidey-feet incidents. There is nothing else I can think of to add excitement or intrigue to this post, for which I apologise.
At the risk of sounding patronising for feeling a need to add a sense of “what a brilliant idea” to this post, why don’t you tidy up or create a small area of colour/food-source/greenery through a window you most often look out of or even just a small part of a garden or balcony or a pot on a windowsill? Take advantage if you’re currently at home more these days, you probably have far more time to water plants and keep them alive!