I have some (hopefully) exciting things scheduled this week for Life on the Balcony, so be sure to check back often. These are some of the posts I have planned:
- On Tuesday I’ll be launching the December contest. The contest will be fun and the prize will help you quell any gardening withdrawal you might be feeling now that things are winding down in your outdoor garden (hint, hint!).
- A bout of rain in my neck of the woods inspired a post about how to protect container gardens during a storm, especially those of us on patios and balconies. Let’s just say, overhangs are not a container gardener’s friend.
- A 2 bedroom apartment with two people and four cats (i.e. my apartment) got me thinking about growing plants inside specifically for my cats to eat. I wrote before about keeping your cats away from your plants, but sometimes it’s easier to just give in an grow some greens for your four legged roommates.
- An article in Organic Gardening piqued my interest in Cybister Amarillis. Don’t wait for my post, whet your appetite by googling them now. Cybister Amarillis are a nice alternative if you’re looking for a less-than-typical bulb to force inside.
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You know, I’d love to hear about what to do with container gardens during a storm. Let’s just say it’s a mess ’round these parts on the rare occasion when it does rain, not least because we have burlap up as a sun shade for a large part of the year.
Oh! I got some new herbs in the ground today, some snapdragons, and I’ve got sugar snap peas, sunflowers, marigolds, beans, and lettuce coming up. This is the time of year I enjoy living in the desert.
Laurel — I’m not sure I have all the answers regarding containers and storms, but hopefully I’ll be able to throw out some ideas and others will be able to pipe up with things they’ve tried that work.
Perhaps your overhangs need gutters? How are storms affecting your container gardening? Does your containers turn to mud pots? Is there no drainage holes? Do you have wind damage? I apologize if these questions seem dumb, I’m just trying to understand your problems. Since I have room for a big garden, I don’t do veggies in containers. Which isn’t to say that I wouldn’t try it.
TC — You’ll have to check back during the week and find out!
I can’t wait to find out which plants you’re growing for your fuzzy little friends! I don’t have cats myself, but my mother does – and I’m sure she would appreciate some green distractions for them.
Any suggestions for dogs? My lab is feeling left out.
Oh, I get wind damage, soggy burlap torn from its moorings, and I occasionally get exposed roots where the pots were flooded and dirt was washed out.
To be fair, we’re really okay most of the time, and we’re moving into gentle rains in early spring…heavy rains are mostly a late summer thing here. We just have a lot of pots in a small space, plus a non-negotiable overhang over a good part of the arable concrete
(which is responsible for the exposed roots). It’s a tricky balance. If I were on my game, I’d just move my smaller pots when rain was coming. (The big ones are in safe zones–out of overhand reach.) I’m just not always around when the rain is coming. L’sigh.
Re: Cats. I bought these for a friend:
http://www.reneesgarden.com/seeds/seeds-hm/herbsC.htm#cat