Amazon Giveaway Test Run on Budget Balcony Living

Update:  I have received an email from Amazon. The giveaway has ended and the winner has been selected.  Congratulations to the winner!


Hi All,

I am aware that many writers, bloggers, and youtubers use Amazon Giveaways in order to advertise their books, advertise their items, or increase their audience. Some bloggers use the giveaway to thank their subscribers.

I have been considering using an Amazon Giveaway to thank my readers for awhile now. But I am concerned that I will have difficulty setting it up. People who know me are aware that I sometimes struggle with technology.

I want to set up occasional giveaways in order to give little thank yous to my readers.  Also, I write about things I really like or things that excite me. For this reason, I have wanted to find a way to share these items with others.  If I master the art of the giveaway, perhaps I will be able to regularly share some of the items I like so much.

Today is the day that I'm going to try to set up a giveaway as a small way to thank my readers and supporters.  I am choosing one of the wind chimes that I wrote about in my Neighbor-Friendly Budget Balcony Wind Chimes.

To enter this giveaway, you will need an Amazon account and a Twitter account. Go to my Twitter page and follow the directions in the giveaway tweet (which should only be to retweet the giveaway - provided I've set it up correctly). The giveaway will end on Nov. 11, 2017. Amazon will randomly choose one winner from those who have retweeted that giveaway link and Amazon will ship the item to the winner.

Should be easy-peasy. Right?

Good luck to everyone who enters! And thank you for bearing with me during this test run. Hopefully this will result in future giveaways.

To ENTER Budget Balcony Living's first Amazon Giveaway - the swimming fish wind chime by Blue Handworks - Click here and follow the instructions in the link to RETWEET.

*This article may contain affiliate links. If you shop via one of the affiliate links, I may earn a small commission - at no additional cost to you. I am very appreciative of every reader who visits my articles. Thank you. 

By the way, there are "public" Amazon Giveaways happening daily HERE.  Everyone can enter those by following the directions in the individual giveaway links. I will not be making my giveaway "public" as my intent is to focus on my readers and supporters. However, if you like giveaways... be sure to check out that link!!!!

Neighbor-Friendly Budget Balcony Wind Chimes

Beautiful chimes by Blue Handworks

Oh how I enjoy distinctive, large, booming wind chimes. Unfortunately, apartment balcony life does Budget Balcony Living sometimes requires compromises; such as more subdued wind chime tinkling. The excellent news is that there are wind chimes that are visually beautiful while producing more subdued sounds.
not always allow for the type of wind chimes some of us enjoy most.

Beach Glass and Driftwood Wind Chimes by Blue Handworks

Blue Handworks offers a variety of wind chimes that are made of beach glass. Using beach glass as a chime is a brilliant idea as it acts as both a suncatcher and a chime. The tinkling sounds of beach glass is also less noticeable to the neighbors than the large metal tube and brass bell types of wind chimes. The beach glass pieces are hung from a piece of driftwood creating a natural piece of art.

Fortunately, Blue Handworks provides videos of their chimes so you get an idea of the sound and appearance before you make your purchase. Clearly, the exposure to wind makes a difference in how individual wind chimes sound. In the video, the wind is much stronger than I experience on my covered balcony so the sounds produced by the beach glass would be even more subdued.

Capiz Shell Wind Chimes

Capiz shells are also visually pleasing as they are translucent and allow light to pass through. The sounds the shells make are also more subdued than metal and brass wind chimes yet have a very pretty and natural tone.

Capiz shell wind chimes can be found in very small groupings with small 1" shells to very large and intricate groupings with larger Capiz shells. They are also offered in a variety of colors.

The Woodstock brand offers not only capiz shell wind chimes, but they also offer a solar-lighted capiz shell wind chime. You could combine both the sound of a wind chime and a tiny bit of light at night. Imagine what a nice touch that would be on your balcony.

Whether you are looking for your own balcony decor or a gift for someone who loves balcony living, consider these items. If your neighbors are not wind chime fans, they will thank you for refraining from hanging those large metal chimes.

*This article may contain affiliate links. If you shop via one of the affiliate links, I may earn a small commission - at no additional cost to you. I am very appreciative of every reader who visits my articles. Thank you. 

Autumn Garland and Lights for Your Balcony

Indoor/Outdoor lighted garland

Why should seasonal decor be limited to the insides of our homes? As summer drifts into fall, and the days become shorter, it is the perfect time to decorate your balcony with autumn themed garland and lights. Bring the colors of the changing leaves to your outdoor space. Enjoy unique lights wrapped around your rails. With minimal cost and effort, your balcony can reflect the beauty of the changing seasons. A quick internet search for autumn decor shows many photos of garland used on fireplace mantels, indoor staircases, and around windows and doors. But why not bring that beauty and decoration to your outdoor space?

Simple Autumn Garlands for Balcony Rails

No fuss, no muss simple garlands can bring a touch of seasonal flair to your balcony. Choose from "silk" autumn leaves or more rustic berries and pine cones - depending on your preference or your usual balcony decor.

Rustic pine cones, felted balls & wooden leaves

Simply wrap the garland of your choice around the top rail and voila, decor that has changed wit the season. Some garland is "wired" and wraps securely around the rails. Other garland is not. Simple zip ties or floral wire can attach your garland more securely to the rails.

Lighted Autumn Leaves Garlands

I am partial to the lighted strings of autumn leaves. I like to see the colors of the leaves spotlighted by the lights or glowing with the lights hidden behind the leaves. Imagine the lighted garland in the intro photo on your rail, outside, in the dark.

If your balcony is exposed to the weather, like mine is, make sure you choose a string of lighted garland that is rated for indoor/outdoor use. And pay attention to the wording "protected outdoor use".

Autumn Light Strings

While searching for a lighted leafy garland, I found a fun variety of autumn themed strings of lights. From pumpkins, to leaves, to lights that come in shades of oranges/yellows/greens, there are several choices that celebrate the season.

You also have choices whether the lights are battery-operated or solar powered.

Whether you lean toward shaped bulbs or lights that hint at the season through the use of the color of the bulbs, there is a string of lights that reflects you and how you celebrate the change of the seasons.

*This article may contain affiliate links. If you shop via one of the affiliate links, I may earn a small commission - at no additional cost to you.  I am very appreciative of every reader who visits my articles. Thank you

Portulaca Grandiflora - Excellent Choice for the Budget Balcony

my neglected Moss Rose

One of the difficulties with growing plants in containers on a balcony or patio is trying to keep up with watering them sufficiently. Plants in containers tend to dry out more quickly so they tend to need more frequent watering. It doesn't take long for a container plant to wilt and die from lack of water. Fortunately, I have found that the Portulaca Grandiflora (Moss Rose) continues to thrive on my balcony, even when I've not watered it as I should.

What are Portulaca Grandiflora?

Portulaca Grandiflora are also called Moss Rose. In the past, I wasn't very attracted to the moss rose
plants I've seen. Then one year, I saw these amazing, white Moss Rose flowers. Since then, I've had a pot of Moss Roses on my budget balcony each summer. And each summer I've been pleased with them.

I have recently returned from a week away from my apartment, during a heatwave, and the Moss Rose continues to do well while my other plants have either wilted or nearly died. I hadn't thought of asking someone to water my plants while I was away. Drought-tolerant is only one of the good traits about the Moss Rose.

• does well in full sun
• tolerates heat
• prefers desert-like conditions
• is an "easy" care plant
• is easy to propagate (self-seeds or from cuttings)
• is an annual, so it does not need overwintering care
• is inexpensive and easy-to-find

the white Moss Rose that made me fall in love

Successful Budget Balcony Gardens

While gardeners who enjoy the act of gardening, budget balcony gardens are more successful with plants that are appropriate for the conditions found on your balcony or patio. My balcony is covered, so rainfall does not benefit my plants. My balcony is exposed to direct sun for the vast majority of the day. Plants that do the best on my balcony can tolerate full sun, heat, and sometimes drought. If you explore the plants that are suited to your balcony, you too can have a successful container garden on your balcony.

A brief video I found on Youtube about Portulaca Grandiflora:

*This article may contain affiliate links. If you shop via one of the affiliate links, I may earn a small commission - at no additional cost to you.  I am very appreciative of every reader who visits my articles. Thank you

Container Potato Experiment Update

The potato plants had withered away, so I planned on digging them up  this morning.  I was not sure whether they had died from the heat wave that had gone through or whether they had died as a natural part of the life of a potato plant.  I dug them up and this what I've found. I'll share what I've learned from this budget balcony potato experiment.

In February,  I decided to plant the potatoes that I had found sprouted in my kitchen and the Budget Balcony Garden Potato Experiment began.

What I Learned from My Potato Experiment

On my budget balcony, I tend to move my plants around frequently, depending on how they seem to be responding to the amount of light they are getting. I have learned that potato plants are very brittle and can break easily.  I broke two of the plants during re-positioning of the container. In the future, I will place the container where I want it and leave it alone.

Due to these potato plants being more brittle than other plants, their tendency to hang over the edge of the tub, and my nosy dogs, I will use a tomato cage to keep my plants upright and off the floor of the balcony (and out from under the feet of my nosy dogs) during my next potato experiment.

After reading about companion plants, I planted green beans in the container also. The beans are doing great. I will plant them this way in the future. But, I will not start the potatoes in the center of the tub.  I will plant the potatoes more to one side.

Having the green beans so close to the potato plants made digging the taters a bit more difficult. But only a bit. I'll spread them further apart next time.

Other than the proximity of the bean plants, the taters were so easy to dig! Much better than my failed attempts in gardens in the yard.

In the future, I will continue to plant potatoes in containers.  I like the ease of care, lack of bugs, and had the best-looking potato harvest I've ever had.  I think with practice, it will only get better.

container garden - half taters, half beans

*This article may contain affiliate links. If you shop via one of the affiliate links, I may earn a small commission - at no additional cost to you.  I am very appreciative of every reader who visits my articles. Thank you

Super Hummingbirds by Nature a Mesmerizing Video

Super Hummingbirds

One of my favorite things about spring is the arrival of hummingbirds. As the temperatures outside begin to warm, I have begun to wonder about putting my hummingbird feeder outside. I'm not sure how early is too early.  As I putter around this morning doing household chores, it was by sheer luck that I flipped the television channel to a public television channel as they were showing Super Hummingbirds.  If you are interested in hummingbirds, as I am, you must see this film. It is mesmerizing.

Super Hummingbirds by Nature

Through slow motion cinematography, high speed camera work, and new technology, we are able to watch some of the smallest details of the lives of hummingbirds. The movie describes and shows migration, mating, eating, nest building, and more. This is the second hummingbird film by Ann Johnson Prun, emmy award winning filmmaker. This film is so detailed that it brings us new scientific information about hummingbirds such as how they drink nectar so quickly and how the survive in high altitudes.

A male hummingbird dances in flight, flashing his brilliant feathers at a female. Trying to woo her by raising his mantel of bright purple feathers.

We watch as a hummingbird female builds a delicate nest and lay her eggs. During the PBS interveiw with the filmmaker that I'm watching, Ms.Johnson Prun reports that the egg is the size of a tic-tac. This tiny bird, in her little nest on the back of a leaf, hatches her babies.  In another nest, we watch a different species of humming bird raise her babies until they are old enough to shakily leave the nest.

The cinematography is so detailed and clear, that we are able to hear their chirps and watch these tiny hummingbirds as they hunt for and catch teeny flying insects. We watch these insects, the size of specks of dust. as the birds catches them. I could not take my eyes from the movie.

Really, I do not have sufficient words to describe how amazing this video is. How detailed it is. How we watch the rain drops land on the hummingbird and how the hummingbird shakes it off.  How brightly iridescent the feathers are and how we can see each individual feather.

I will leave you with this little video clip and encourage you to see the complete film. And I think I'll fill and hang the feeder, and see if I can attract them earlier than May, which is when I notice my first visitors each year.

*This article may contain affiliate links. If you shop via one of the affiliate links, I may earn a small commission - at no additional cost to you.  I am very appreciative of every reader who visits my articles. Thank you.

Budget Balcony Garden - Potato Experiment

I have never successfully grown a potato large enough worth the bother. Never. Not that I've tried very often throughout my lifetime. Potatoes were inexpensive where I grew up and seemed to be plentiful. As an adult, I have tried growing potatoes a few times but I will be the first to admit that my neglect was certainly what caused a lack of success with potatoes. I have decided to try again to grow potatoes. This time, I am attempting to grow a few potatoes in a container on my balcony.

Why Grow My Own Potatoes?

I love to eat potatoes. Whether they are in the form of french fries, baked, mashed, or boiled I just really like potatoes.  Approximately a year ago, I ate a potato from the grocery.  It looked a little funny but I still cut, peeled, and boiled it. And promptly became very ill.  I miss eating potatoes but I still can't bring myself to buy many from the grocery store.  So I will once again try to grow my own.

I had my most luck with growing potatoes when I tried to grow some on in a mound/tower combination. Using a tire, I piled dirt on the plant as it grew.  The plant itself did well. Then it suffered from neglect nearer to the end of it's growing season and only ended up producing tiny little taters.

It is with this mound/tower method that I am trying again.

Starting Potatoes in a Container for My Balcony Garden

I have chosen a plastic tub for my container.  I chose this particular size only because it is tall and somewhat more narrow than many storage containers.  I do not want to take up much floor space with this potato garden.

Sterilite 10 gal storage tub

On January 30th, I drilled holes in the bottom of the container for drainage using my wonderfully handy DeWalt drill. The lid is a handy drainage "saucer" for the container.  Not allowing the water to drain out of the potato containers should keep my downstairs neighbors happy.

drain holes drilled with my DeWalt

Approximately two weeks later, I cut a potato in half that had grown eyes (while forgotten in the back of my cupboard) and planted the two pieces of potato in this container.  I followed some advice on the internet stating that the seed potatoes can be planted close to the bottom of the container as the potatoes and root system grow out more than they grow down. So I placed about 3-4" of soil in the bottom of the container, placed the two sections of potatoes on that dirt and covered them with soil.

I kept the container inside until today. I kept it just inside the balcony door, allowing it to receive some light.  I placed an unused oven rack on top to keep the cat from using it as a kitty pan. After the plants had grown a couple of inches above the soil line, I covered them in more soil.

Today, February 20th, the potatoes have grown sufficiently that I've added more soil. The weather is beautiful and unseasonably warm, so I've moved them out onto the balcony. I have not placed them in the corner of the balcony that receives the most direct sun yet. I am attempting to acclimate them to the balcony.

I will be adding more soil today, but I wanted to take a photo of the growth of the plants before hiding them from view.

potato plants after less than a month

Containers for Growing Potatoes

There are many varieties of potato growing containers to choose from.  I really like the "bag" type with the access flaps that enable you to pick potatoes without disturbing the plant. If circumstances were different, I would have chosen one of the bags. I did not opt for one of those systems due to 1) my pets, 2) my own clumsiness, and 3) downstairs neighbors.  For those reasons, I opted for a hard-sided container. I am hoping to avoid accidents and spills with the container I've chosen. However, you may prefer one of the many other potato growing containers that are offered.

Intro photo design created courtesy of  FotoJet

*This article may contain affiliate links. If you shop via one of the affiliate links, I may earn a small commission - at no additional cost to you.  I am very appreciative of every reader who visits my articles. Thank you.

Budget Balcony Garden - Growing Garlic

What do you do with that forgotten garlic you found sprouting in the cupboard? You plant it!  But only in your container garden on the balcony. Many gardeners report that it is important not to plant grocery store-bought garlic cloves in your garden due to the possibility of passing along plant disease. But they also say that you can safely plant your garlic cloves in a container on your budget balcony. This is how my garlic experiment is going so thus far.

How My Garlic Garden Experiment is Beginning

I found a sprouted garlic in my cupboard. My initial thought was to toss it into the trash. But I paused and tried to do some research and asked some gardeners online.

My concern was heirloom versus hybrid and would it be worth trying to plant. I am not a very knowledgeable gardener and before I was aware of the differences between hybrid and heirloom plants in general, I had saved some seeds from a favorite plant only to find that it didn't result in the same plant the following year. I was very disappointed.  So I didn't want to plant garlic cloves if they were going to turn out to be something other than the garlic I wanted.

It turns out that there are many conflicting opinions about planting garlic from the grocery store. Some believe that the garlic from the store is treated in a way that will not allow it to grow properly. Others show photographs of their successful garlic plants from garlic cloves from the grocery store. Many report concern about spreading disease or fungus in your garden when using garlic cloves from the grocery.

Since I would be planting these cloves in a container on my balcony, I was not concerned about spreading disease. And, since they were already sprouting, perhaps they would grow. Maybe, just maybe, I'll grow my first garlic.

January 21 - I found the sprouting garlic.  I divided the cloves and planted three cloves in a planter. I used leftover potting soil from planters on the balcony and some of the wonderful accidental compost I had made. The other cloves I placed in a small  measuring cup of water.

January 28 - two of the cloves in the planter had grown considerably. The cloves in water were also growing but not quite as tall.

February 4  -  the garlic plants in the planter range from 8" to 15" tall. The cloves in water are still doing well but are only 4" to 6" in height.

Space-Saving Planters and Balcony Gardens

Did you notice that my planter is only half of a planter?  I intentionally chose one of my old "garden wall" planters. Currently, my little garlic sprouts are on a shelf and in front of a window in my dining room. As the weather warms, I will hang my garlic plants outside - from the balcony rail. That way they are out of the way and saving space.

The following planters are similar in size to the old planter I have.

wall planters that can attach to balcony rails

Intro photo design created courtesy of  FotoJet

*This article may contain affiliate links. If you shop via one of the affiliate links, I may earn a small commission - at no additional cost to you.  I am very appreciative of every reader who visits my articles. Thank you.

Budget Balcony Gardens - Composting

Composting is a large part of growing healthy gardens - even in the smallest gardens. That includes your balcony or patio garden. Composting is also important for the environment as you are reusing soil, leaves, food scraps, and other things that are sometimes overlooked and thrown out or left to blow away. If you create enough of your own soil through composting you will eliminate the need to purchase bags of soil from the store. Composting on your balcony can be as easy as putting old soil from your planters into a plastic container with the leaves from your spent plants and then forgetting about it.  If you think I'm joking... read on.

Set it and Forget it Composting

That rich, wonderful soil in the intro photograph is mine.  I literally placed some soil from a planter I was no longer using into a large coffee "can". I added egg shells, some leaves from dead plants (tomato plants if I remember correctly), ripped up cardboard containers from the plants I bought at the store, added some water, and placed it on the balcony. Initially, I turned it and shook it to mix the ingredients. But then after a short period of time, I didn't flip it, turn it, or do much else. Eventually, I brought it into a corner of the kitchen and completely forgot about it.

Today, I was looking for some soil so that I could plant a few garlic cloves as an experiment. I found this coffee can, that I had forgotten, full of this rich, wonderful soil.  I also found an old planter that held the leaves I had collected in the autumn. Those leaves were so dried out that it was easy to crush them with my hands into fine bits.  I stirred the coffee can soil and the dried leaf bits together and ended up with the prettiest potting soil I've ever seen.

I can only imagine the lovely soil I would have ended up with if I had put any effort into it.

The Best Containers for Balcony Composting

You can do as I did and use a large plastic coffee can. I chose the one I did because of the handy grips that are built-in. I did hold the lid on while I shook or turned it, as I did not want the lid flying off and decomposing bits flying all over. I had set aside a cat litter bucket with a lid and planned on using it for my composting experiment but had never gotten around to it. I wish I had used it. Can you imagine the amount of rich soil I'd have by now?

Many containers would be suitable for your apartment composting. There are small and attractive containers that can be kept on your kitchen counter for the collection of food scraps. You can use small buckets with lids, larger trash cans with lids, or plastic storage containers.  If you have a large enough balcony, or have a patio instead, there are tumbler composters as small as 37 gallons that would make turning the compost a very easy task.

What to add to Your Apartment Compost Bin

An apartment balcony garden can be tricky. The plants die off and the landlords do not want the balcony used for "storage". Because of that, every autumn I empty some of the planters and tidy up a bit. There have been years that I've thrown the dead plants into the trash. But that seems oh so wasteful. Then in the spring the potting soil looks depleted and pitiful that I purchase new potting soil. Those things were what drove me to try the coffee can compost.

You can make your own amazing soil with any of the following ingredients:

• the soil from planters that no long have plants
• dead plants and leaves
• leaves you collect from the yard in the autumn
• kitchen scraps - fruit peels, vegetable trimmings, potato peels, and more
• egg shells
• shredded news paper
• cardboard (the chunks in the photo are the "cardboard" pieces discarded from the plants I had purchased at the nursery - regular cardboard decomposes more quickly)
• DO NOT ADD meats and/or dairy scraps to your compost

I feel that it is important to note that my first attempt with the coffee can compost container was not so successful.  I had added many more egg shells and food scraps than dirt. I don't recall adding any plant matter. I had added quite a bit of water - enough that the consistency was along the lines of mud.  I did not flip it, turn it, or stir it for a bit of time (a couple of weeks if I recall correctly).  When I opened the lid, it smelled terrible! It is important to add your scraps to a sufficient amount of dirt. Composting does not require a large amount of water.

I want to add that I am clearly no composting expert.  You should read other articles about the benefits of knowing the temperature of your compost, keeping scraps in the containers on your kitchen counter, and other educational articles that would address your needs.

My intent with this was to share my excitement about the rich and beautiful soil I created. And to help you know that it can be just as easy as set it and forget it to do.  Your balcony garden plants will thank you.

Intro photo design created courtesy of  FotoJet

*This article may contain affiliate links. If you shop via one of the affiliate links, I may earn a small commission - at no additional cost to you.  I am very appreciative of every reader who visits my articles. Thank you.

Another Red Siberian Pole Tomato Update

Red Siberian Pole tomato

My balcony garden this season was a flop.  I had too many interests, too little time, and was too busy with work. My plants on the balcony suffered from neglect and drought.  As colder weather came, and we had several frost advisories, many of the remainder of my balcony plants died - despite being under a roof. However, the other day I noticed that my resilient, hardy Red Siberian Pole tomato by Botanical Interests had blooms!  Now, not only does it have blossoms, but it has tiny green tomatoes.  If you are looking for a hardy pole tomato, this has got to be it!

The Tomato Update Timeline

I had written a previous update about these little tomato sprouts then plants. You can read the entire article in June if you want to. But the summary is:

• March - I bought my first packet of Botanical Interests seeds
• unknown date - a planted 3 seeds
• April 26th - all 3 seeds had sprouted 
• Beginning of June - I replanted the sprouts
• June 28th - the plants were growing and hardy -despite the neglect
• July 31st - I posted an update with the little red tomatoes - the few tomatoes - I got from the other plants. And the little green tomatoes on my Red Siberian

I was so busy and neglectful of my plants on the balcony this year. Only my mint, hibiscus, and Wave petunias survived and thrived. Clearly, those plants like dry periods between waterings. My other two tomato plants turned to tall, brown sticks. But this little heirloom pole tomato would not give up.

In fact, this little Red Siberian pole tomato put on little tomatoes. They ripened and were healthy fruit - no bugs, no spots, no rot.  I tasted them. Because of the severe neglect, they were very small and had tough skins.  I am sure that is only due to the lack of water they received.

In hindsight, I should have saved those seeds. Those little tomatoes grew in the very worst conditions.

Very recently, after having had some frost advisories, and temperature swings from frost to 70 F degree days, I went out onto the balcony to begin emptying the dead plants from the pots so I could store the pots for winter.  Lo and behold, that little tomato plant had a TON of blooms!

I have since moved the plant indoors, to a bedroom window that receives bright morning light. The photo is of the little green tomatoes on that plant.  If I remember to water it and if the cat leaves it alone, I may end up with fresh tomatoes.  I once before had a tomato plant inside, and fresh tomatoes approaching Thanksgiving.  It looks like that may happen again. Cross your fingers for me.

Botanical Interests Heirloom Tomato Seeds

I am completely sold on the Botanical Interests heirloom tomato seeds. I may try a balcony garden again next year. Maybe not.  I will definitely plant these seeds at The Shack, when I finally move up there. These little tomatoes will be perfect for my little retirement homestead.

Skeletons for Halloween Balcony Decorating

Skeletons for your balcony

I love how some people go all out and decorate their homes for Halloween. While a balcony doesn't offer much space for extensive decorating, a few items can make a big impact. These items are especially meaningful if the pieces you choose are special to you, are unique, or have personality. Skeletons and skulls are perfect for adding to that creepy Halloween mood. The following skeletons have that special something.

Crazy Bonez Skeletal Rat

Skeletons are creepy. Rats are creepy.  Make them even creepier by combining the two!  This 11.5" tall decoration will add interest to your budget balcony. Imagine him peeking out from between your planters or perched on your table.  He is definitely an interesting little guy.

rat skeleton

Skeleton with a Lantern Rising from the Ground

This skeleton would look great either looking toward the neighbors or turned, and looking at you form the balcony through your balcony door.  This guy measures just less than 12" x 13", so he could be rising from the dirt in one of your empty planters.  Or with just a small amount of effort, a low container could be filled with sand and a headstone added. Voila, you have a skeleton rising from the grave.

sinister skull & lantern

Mr. & Mrs. All Hallow's Eve Garden Gnomes

These two are packed full of interest and creepiness.  They are a bit pricier than my budget balcony wallet usually considers, but these two make up for it in the amount of personality they have.  At 18" tall, they are a great size for a balcony.

garden Skel-A-Gnomes

Full Figure Skeleton

This guy is a 5' tall skeleton who will look great attached to the roof of your balcony or seated in a chair. This skeleton is not posable but because it is life-sized he can look posed seating in a chair or on a bench.  

5' tall skeleton

Add to these figures a jack-o-lantern and some spiderwebs. Or a string of Halloween lights wrapped around your railing and bunch of cornstalks propped up in the corner and you have turned your balcony into a festive holiday space.

Seasonal Decor - Summer Sunflowers

Sonnenblume Hullkelch CC by SA 3.0

Sunflowers bloom from mid-summer into autumn.  As the remnants of summer hangs on, large sunflower heads bend - heavy with seeds. Sunflower festivals and acres upon acres of sunflower fields are in bloom here in Maryland and in other states across the US. Bright yellow and orange sunflowers are a perfect and inexpensive seasonal theme for your balcony or patio decor.

The very best part of decorating a small balcony seasonally is that it can be done on a small budget. In a small space, only two or three new items will give your outdoor living space an entirely different look.

If you purchase wisely, your items can be reused each year. As summer vacation rolls into back-to-school, beach season is ending, and autumn has not yet begun, you can bring sunflowers from the fields - literally or not - onto your budget balcony.

Decorating with Silk Flower and Beautiful Vases

Fresh cut flowers are beautiful and a favorite choice for decorating in homes.  I am also pleased to see that sunflowers are used in bridal arrangements during this time of year.  What a pretty idea! Cut sunflowers are beautiful.  My balcony is well-lit and quite hot in late afternoons.  So my flower arrangements must be flowers grown in containers or silk arrangements - as cut flowers would not last long at all in the heat and direct sunlight.

Fortunately, there are many gorgeous silk flowers available today.  Including bouquets of sunflowers. If you have a small table or shelf on your balcony, a pitcher or vase full of these bright, happy flowers adds a wonderful pop of color.

Long lasting and colorful sunflower silk flowers

Decorating Large Planters with Sunflower Plant Stakes

I love plant stakes.  One or two strategically placed plant stakes add a focal point and color to your balcony. Whether your style is realism or whimsy, you can find a plant stake that gives you a little spark of happiness when you see it. Plant stakes also come in a large variety of materials; nylon spinners, solar lighted stakes, and painted metal to name a few.

The intricate, metal, painted garden stakes are the ones that tend to catch my eye.  This is an example of a detailed metal garden stake but you definitely do not need to limit yourself to this style.

Painted metal sunflower garden stake

Sunflower Indoor Outdoor Floor Mats

Outdoor floor mats are gorgeous and an easy and inexpensive way to change the look of your balcony during each season.  They are made for the outdoors - weather resistant and durable. Again, this is an item that comes in a large variety of styles and materials.  Whimsical or realistic, subdued or neon bright, low pile or reminiscent of "shag", you can find something that speaks to you.

Please note that if you have a wooden balcony, as I do, and you like small rugs on your balcony, you must take care to monitor that the rugs are not holding too much water between the rug and the wood.  Nasty things happen when moisture is retained between carpets and wooden floors.

I tend to prefer the traditional rectangular "welcome mat" style.And I had planned on displaying one of those. However, this particular mat is so adorable that I've put on in my Amazon cart and decided to share this adorable sunflower mat with you.

Indoor and outdoor sunflower mat

Small Garden Flags

Mini garden flags are a wonderful and inexpensive way to change your balcony decor for the season. The garden flag pole is a one-time purchase. From that point, The 12" x 18" small garden flags are the perfect size for a balcony or patio and the choices of prints and messages are infinite. This milk cow and sunflower field garden flags makes me smile.

Small garden flag - printed on both sides

Sunflower Lights

I occasionally place lights on my balcony.  I love seeing the twinkle of subtle and colorful lights outside at night.  I'd place lights on my balcony more often if I weren't such a lazy decorator.  I have seen some gorgeous and tasteful silk flower garlands with lights wrapped around handrails. Such lights can be purchased as traditional "Christmas Tree" strings or strings of lights on the tiniest coppers wires.  These strings can be electrical, battery operated, or solar.  Whatever power source you require or prefer on your balcony, you can find plenty of color and shape options.

I think these little solar powered sunflower lights are adorable! The would look great wrapped around my balcony rail with a garland of miniature green leaves.

Battery operated string of sunflower lights

Sunflower Seat Cushions and Pillow Covers

Imagine a light yellow bench cushion with a sunflower printed throw pillow.  Or, slightly less budget-minded, a sunflower printed bench cushion with a yellow throw pillow.  Either of those choices would spruce up a late summer time balcony with no other seasonal items necessary.

With the exception of two folding chairs, I do not have furniture on my small balcony.  I do use printed cushions and pillows for both seating and decorating.  I love how textiles can change the entire feel of an area. And prints can be chosen to display an individuals taste. I think our personalities shine through our print choices.

Indoor outdoor sunflower throw pillow

Sunny yellow indoor outdoor furniture cushion

Related Articles:

I do not tend to decorate based on the season's color trends. But after reading this article about Pantone's Top Color Choices for Fall 2016, I may choose colors based on what's "in" this autumn. I think these colors are gorgeous.  A floor mat, throw pillow, and garden flag in these colors would make me happy. I'm not sure what it is about the tones of these colors; spicy mustard, dusty cedar, airy blue, and more, are very visually pleasing to me.

Maybe you are fortunate and have yard and garden space beyond a balcony or patio.  In that case, I recommend that you visit a Hoosier and her Indiana Garden blog. The veggie photographs alone are worth the visit. Her blog ranges from roses, to flowers, to grasses, and how to manage clay soil.  Definitely worth a peek for gardeners.

Be sure to visit and follow me on the Budget Balcony Living Pinterest board.  I'd love to see your ideas for those budget balcony, patio, and outdoor living ideas.

Fresh Tomatoes from My Balcony Garden

The tomatoes from my balcony garden

I have a small balcony space and a brown thumb.  In addition to those problems, this season has been very busy for me and I've neglected my plants. Despite the neglect, I have a few, small, ripe tomatoes that will be going into a smoothie today.  If you think you can't grow your own plants, maybe this will help convince you otherwise

My Tomatoes on a Balcony

I'm not good with plants. My adult children hear about my latest plant purchase and joke about "how long until you kill it?". If I had more than two children, they would probably form betting pools about how long it will take for me to kill the plant.  But for some reason, tomatoes love my balcony.

This year, I have been especially busy and my plants - even my tomatoes - are neglected.  I coax them back from dehydration each week or so. As a result, the tomatoes I've picked are small. They are a bit larger than cherry tomato size when they should be plum size.  I tried one last night and the skin is a bit tougher than usual, but what can I expect when they've lived through almost weekly droughts? The taste was still far better than the tomatoes I purchase in a grocery.

These tomatoes are from plants that were from seeds that I started inside. When I am organized, I use an old, large fish aquarium for a "greenhouse".  After the starts were large enough to go outside, I transplanted them and took them outside.  Due to my lack of organization, I can only guess that they were seeds saved from a Bonnie Plant tomato plant - before I knew about the difference between hybrids and heirlooms.

My heirloom Red Siberian pole tomato plant is surviving the droughts better than my other tomatoes. However, I was really late starting those three seeds.  That plant is just putting on blooms. I'll have to update again when I have ripe tomatoes from it. Provided I don't neglect it to death in the meantime.

If you believe you can't grow something on your balcony, give it a try.  Some plants will respond to your space, light, and level of care (or in my case the lack of care) better than others.  You might surprise yourself and be able to produce enough for a meal or two.

Update:

Lovely green Red Siberian pole tomatoes. Growing in spite of the extreme heat and my continued neglect

4th of July Budget Balcony Decor

"Liberty" garden flag

The 4th of July is my favorite holiday and seeing balconies tastefully decorated for Independence Day brings me great enjoyment. The best thing about decorating a balcony is that the area is small and can be personalized and decorated inexpensively. Just a few items can bring patriotic celebration to your outdoor living area.

No matter how you celebrate the 4th, I wish you a happy, safe, and wonderfully independent day.

Nature's Red, White, and Blue Blooms

Healthy plants and flowers are always my favorite decorating idea.  Truly blue flowers are not the easiest to find. However, I have discovered that Wave Petunias come in shades close to blue.  I had not paid attention to Wave Petunias prior to this year but have discovered that they are an amazingly beautiful and hardy choice for a balcony. The continuous blooms on my balcony are a treat this year.

A mixture of these red, white, and blue petunias would be great arranged together in a single hanging basket or together in a large planter. Or each color in a separate small planter but arranged next to each other on a shelf.  Start the plants early enough, and by July 4th, they would be cascading over the rail. Wouldn't that be pretty?

Had I planned ahead, and I will do so next year, a basket of red, white, and blue Wave Petunias would be an excellent way to display red, white & blue.

If you are not able to find wave petunias locally, you use the "store locator" on the Wave Petunia site or you can choose this Wave the Flag pelleted seed assortment from U.S Seal

Easy Wave the Flag mix by US Seal

Small Patriotic Garden Flags 

I have used small garden flags on my balcony for years.  I typically have one planter large enough to hold the small flag stand. I have found that 12 x 18 inch garden flags are a perfect size for a balcony garden.  If high winds are a problem on your balcony, typically not on mine but is occasionally a concern, the garden stake can benefit from additional support. A simple zip tie can be used to attach the garden stake to the railing and provide more than adequate support.

The best thing about small garden flags is that they can be changed with each holiday, season, or your mood.  Garden flags can add such a personal touch to your balcony.

Applique Patriotic Garden Flag

Toland Home Garden Welcome Flag

Outdoor Red, White & Blue Lighting

I love just a bit of lighting on my balcony. I prefer privacy from the neighbors' prying eyes. So I prefer subdued lighting. Over the years, I've used candles or a string of small lights - such as a small string of holiday lights.

Nowadays, lights come in such a variety that they can be holiday or celebration themed.  Strings such as these red, white, and blue stars would look great attached to a balcony rail on the 4th of July.

Patriotic Stars Light String

Solar Powered and Waterproof Chinese Lanterns

My first small garden flag remains my favorite garden flag. Unfortunately, I've taken very few photos of it. This is early summer last year - tomato plants, peppers, a flag, and a gorgeous blue sky. Though small, your balcony is part of your home. Make it yours.

Red Siberian Pole Tomato Update

Red Siberian pole tomato seeds

While I've gotten a late start with my tomatoes, and I haven't been the most attentive container gardener this year, I do have an update about my Red Siberian pole tomatoes from Botanical Interests.  I am very pleased with these seeds and hope to be as pleased with the fruit.

My Tomato Timeline

In March I made an early visit to the garden center and chose some seeds by Botanical Interests.  I am attempting to learn more about heirloom seeds and plants (in preparation for my retirement to a country home and a large garden).  I ended up purchasing a pack of Red Siberian pole tomato seeds by Botanical Interests.

Normally, I would have started the seeds in my makeshift greenhouse (a large aquarium in front of an east-facing window) that week in March. But I put the seeds aside and nearly forgot.  Unfortunately, I did not write down the date that I did finally start them.

I started three seeds. Only three seeds. I expected one (or none) to sprout.  My balcony garden space is limited and I thought I'd just try one of these plants. Of the three seeds planted, ALL THREE SPROUTED! Yes, I am internet shouting.  I do not have a green thumb and I truly expected zero to sprout during the first attempt. It excites me that 100% of the seeds sprouted.

On April 26th, I had these three, healthy sprouts and was confident enough that they would continue to grow, that I took a photo of them.

Then promptly forgot about them.

They wilted, I'd remember to water them then forget again. They wilted again, then bounced back when I remembered to water them.  All in all, and in spite of the neglect, they grew very well.

A couple of weeks ago, I finally transplanted them to another pot and moved them out to the balcony. When re-potting tomatoes, I always strip off all of the leaves except the top few and plant them deep. Whether it is accurate or not, I believe that technique creates a better tomato root system and a stronger plant.

Today, on June 28th, this is what these little plants look like.  Despite the continued drought and flood that my gardening style has taken on this year.

What I have learned is that these seeds sprout easily. The sprouts grow very well. And despite the neglectful gardening style this year, the plants are growing quickly.  I am looking forward to being able to sample the tomatoes that this plant is sure to bear.

Related Information

While I purchased my seeds at a local garden center, you can also find them online at the official Botanical Interests site. I really like their collections and selection.  I just need to get moved out to the country so I can attempt a larger garden.

It is also important to understand that balcony and container gardens require additional watering to begin with.  I am convinced that using a self-watering planter has been the only reason I haven't killed off my entire balcony garden this year.  If your life is hectic, or you are forgetful, definitely use self-watering containers.

Mint: Easy and Beneficial

Last year's mint

Mint is a wonderful plant. It is a perfect plant for a balcony container garden. It is so easy to grow that it is a great plant for folks who doubt their green thumbs. Not only is it a pretty and full plant, it is a beneficial plant. Mint is useful in the kitchen, makes refreshing drinks, and is reported to have a variety of health benefits.

Mint - An Easy and Vigorous Plant

The joke about me and plants is "How long until you kill it?" There are many, many plants that I cannot grow.  I am definitely not a green thumbed expert.  There are a few plants that have done well in my gardens over the years, but not many.

Mint is a great plant for beginners and people who aren't good with plants either due to lack of skill or lack of time.  It grows profusely. In fact, I think it is better suited to container gardening as mint is known to take over gardens if allowed.  I seem to only have photographs of my mint as young plants. I will have to remember to take photos of how large and bushy they become over the summer. In the second photo, you can see where I have pinched off the top few leaves for use in a smoothie.  It seems that the more I pinch, the better the plant grows.

My mint on my balcony is so hardy that when I've not watered my plants frequently enough, the other plants take some time to bounce back after I water them.  If they bounce back at all. But the mint will turn from droopy and water-deprived to lush and upright almost before my eyes.

This year's mint

Mint - the Tasty Thirst Quencher

In the heat of summer, I'm thirsty but nothing quite quenches my thirst.  Then I found that floating a few mint leaves in a glass of ice water not only tastes great, but takes care of that feeling of thirst. I moved from ice water with mint leaves to smoothies with mint leaves. Whether it is a green/fruit smoothing or a simple cucumber smoothie, they taste even better with mint added.

Reported Health Benefits of Mint

Mint reportedly soothes stomach aches. I have found this to be true.  Mint is also reportedly also soothes skin irritation via topical applications as well as providing health benefits such as antioxidants.  As I'm not a doctor, I don't know these things to be true. But I am very aware that when I am consuming smoothies, with mint, on a regular basis, I feel better physically.

Please do your own research about the health benefits of mint. Sites such as Medical News Today are easy to find and list those reported benefits with more detail.

Mint Smoothies are the Best!

I recently purchased a NutriBullet Pro, after my old blender completely wore out.  I love the NutriBullet and you can read my review here.  My favorite ingredient in smoothies is my mint. Depending on how much you use, the mint can give a subtle, refreshing bit of flavor or a BAM of strong minty freshness.

In fact. just talking about mint smoothies made me so thirsty for one that I paused while writing this in order to make one. Today's smoothie contains: a generous helping of mint, watermelon, a splash of orange juice, and a few spinach leaves.

Mint Resources

For more recipes, uses, and how-to-grow mint directions (which is a little silly since it basically grows itself once introduced to dirt), I recommend that you search for mint on Amazon. Looking at that list reminds me of how important mint is in our lives. Mint chocolate, mints, mint colored clothing, mint extract, and mint lotions, soaps, and beauty aids.

Top 50 Mint recipes

And because I am less talented in the kitchen than I am in the garden, I probably should keep a jar of mint chutney in the cupboard. If my little balcony garden ever produces enough ripe tomatoes at the same time, I plan on making some fresh tomato and mint salsa. How delicious does that sound?

Premium mint cilantro chutney