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The whole experience of my patio garden has been one of my personal highlights of this year. I never could have predicted how much joy I would derive from tending to my plants, harvesting herbs and tomatoes and sitting on my deck enjoying the company of my flowers. All in all I think M and I kicked some serious rookie gardening ass this year. While I’m very excited for the spring and the blooming of my favourite flower, the tulip, I can still enjoy my garden now. For October 21st, it’s not too shabby and I’m still inclined to don a sweater and spend some time sitting amongst the greenery.

Here you can see the wandering Jew truly getting it’s wander on. I know I should hack it back a little, but I’m still in that phase where growth impresses me, wild or groomed.

I had to take out the petunias a little over a month ago, what remains are some mixed flowers, a geranium and good green. The best part of this pot was that a lot of growth occurred through the railing, making it possible to see flowers from street level.

As soon as I planted these Mums, their flowers promtly all dried up. I wasn’t discouraged. I pulled off the dead bits, waiting a week or two and viola… (yes, it’s spelt that way on purpose)

These tomatoes will never ripen, barring some unusual climate anomaly. We did get a lot of yummy ‘matos off this plant this summer. Sadly it bloomed like crazy during Indian Summer.

This critronella plant naturally kept biting bugs off the balcony and it looked funky. In fact it still does.

Our Hibiscus likes it better outside in the summer. Lots of sun, sun and more sun. I guess it makes it feel like it’s at home in the tropics. This weekend it will be repotted and will come inside for the winter. There won’t be as much sun, but I will try to play some Jimmy Buffet for it and drink a margartia near it whenever it seems sad. I will do what I must for my plants.

This year M learned what all those helicotpers falling from maple trees actually do. They make little maple trees. Somehow, our herb box was an ideal place for one helicopter to make a little home. We’re not sure what to do with our little maple sapling, but with my mother’s help, hopefully we’ll find a good place for it.

HRH