Room For One More
July 4, 2010 – 11:10 am
One of the big advantages of having a balcony garden in a challenging growing zone is that every year can be a new layout, with new plant combinations and new containers. Most gardeners know that they can always find a place for another plant, but on a balcony, that certainty is often tested. After almost ten years, I’ve gotten to know how much I need to buy to either replace or add to the plant portfolio. And it took a few years to figure that out, after having moved from tending my large perennial garden in the inner city.
I try to be really deliberate about adding new containers now but I still buy a plant or two too many each year. But guess what? There is always room for one more. Here’s a selected 2010 plant list.
Perennials and Alpines | Androsace sempervivoides, Ptilotrichum spinosum, Athyrium Branford Beauty Fern, Lewisia cotyledon v. purdyi, Clematis alpina, Stolwijk Gold, Clematis v. macropetala, Acantholimon ulcinum ssp. Ulcinum v. purpureum, Paraquilegia microphylla, Cystopteris Fragilis, fern, Saxifrage purpurascens, Saxifraga x urbium Elliot’s Variety, Saxifrage crustata, Saxifraga minutifolia, Erigeron linearis, Potentilla rupestris nana, Hepatica nobilis, Aquilegia bertolonii, Chamaecyparis pisifeera ‘Aurea Compacta, Sempervivum, Maihuenia patagonica, Agave utahensis v kaibabensis, Agave parryi v couesii, Sasa tsuboiana, spreading groundcover bamboo
Edibles | Duke Blueberries, Strawberries, Tumbling Tom and Sun Gold tomatoes, Mentha spicata, spearmint, Mentha suaveolens, apple mint, Carrots, Mixed Spicy Greens, Beans, Garden Salsa Peppers, Arugula, Rosemary, Apple Mint, Spearmint
In the Ponds | Myriophyllum ‘brasilliensis, Red Stemmed Parrot Feather, Caltha palustris , Marsh Marigold, Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, Frog Bit, Azolla caroliniana, Fairy Moss