Crumb Designs

I found something so delightful in my garden today. My streptocarpella is in full bloom and it looks so healthy! The blooms are so pretty and delicate. It is so interesting to see where the blooms grow from the plant. They kind of grown in tiers as the plant grows taller.

I just love how the purple flower looks against the yellow of my oxalis. Very pretty.

So far, my balcony on the 20th floor is growing and blossoming into a wonderful garden escape. Because my balcony is quite long and wraps around our, I decided to chose the furthest corner that is protected from the wind. I have tried the last 3 years for a successful garden on this balcony, and so far this is my most successful year. You could say I've learned a lot about my growing conditions. First of all, because I'm on the 20th floor and in shade, I have to find plants that are hardy in zone 3 and likes part shade/shade. The plants I have chosen this year are Irish Moss, Heuchera Key Lime Pie, Variegated Lily of the Valley, Bleeding Heart, Tuber Begonias, Tiarella, Huechera Obsidian, Jacob's Ladder, Chocolate Chip Ajuga, Oxalis, Echeveria, Lady's Mantle, Sedum, Streptocarpella, Violet, Periwinkle, Sweet Woodruff, Cerinthe Purple Bells, Lamium, and Corydalis Lutea. I think that is all...I think? I am so happy with my choices!

Here is a taste of my secret garden.

Cerinthe, Begonias, Corydalis, Irish Moss, and Periwinkle

Huechera, Tiarella, and Jacob's Ladder

Ajuga, Huechera, Bleeding Heart, Lily of the Valley, Violet, and Begonias.

As far as pests go...there are only a couple I need to worry about - squirrels and fungus gnats. You wouldn't think I would get many pests on the 20th floor. I sure do! Would you believe that I was startled by 2 racoons hanging out in my garden last year! I remember it was night time and their glowing eyes startled me. I left them alone for the night and I was so happy to find them gone in the morning. I used to get a lot of squirrels, but not this time. Hen manure is my trick. I just sprinkle some on top of the soil. Squirrles really hate this stuff.

The pestiest of pests I have are fungus gnats. In the last 2 gardening seasons I had spent a lot of money on plants only to have this nasty gnats eat the roots of my plants. I was so sad to gradually see one by one my plants shrivel up and die. The problem is that Fungus gnats love moist soil, especially moist organic soil. So my cure is to mix my soil with equal parts of sand. This allows my soil to drain easily and prevents any puddling on the surface. After I the plants are potted, I give them a good water and layer a good 1/2" of dry sand on top, followed by a layer of cedar mulch. The sand and mulch is good because it also helps keep the moisture in the containers. I shouldn't have to water my plants too much this season. So far so good. I do regular check ups on the plants and soil in the morning and in the afternoon. But I don't mind. I'd rather be in the garden than inside.