If I hit the lottery, I would buy you a ranch. Of course you would need to retain your spectacular balcony to inspire others. Any apartments on either side vacant? You could buy and bash thru perhaps?

Get some shepherds crooks and start hanging some plants! lol

Want to be a surrogate for me? I'll drive in to get the babies and send pics as they grow up. LOL j/k
I can't get motivated to ws right now. Maybe when the kids are back in school and I have a second to myself?

You and I are in the same boat. lol.
I am dreaming that if I won a lotto, I'll buy a small spread in SE Alaska and plant away as well as enjoy the view and serenity. :-D Hope there are not as many mosquitoes by the coast as inland. lol.

PV - maybe garden for the neighbors, find some local church/community center/etc that needs "serious help' with their beds.

Pitimpinai, I think you do things like this right? what places are on the agenda this year?

kilgod,
Yes, I have been gardening for a church. There are several large beds there that I have filled and need to thin out plants already. lol. I also planted stuffs for 5 other neighbors. I also prepare plants for another neighbor. Really fun. My next door neighbor already bought a couple large hanging baskets for me for next spring. Alright! I will do a lot more annuals this year for all of them. I think this is enough for me to handle. lol.

PV, any community garden plots available in your neck of the woods? That could extend your garden perhaps...

:)
Dee

Let's see - after 6 years of WS and me, my church locks the gates when they see me coming! Hehehehe! Plus, I've initiated a few people there into WSing - they won't let me hog all the space!

Seriously, though, I still do a few containers of annuals for them each year. This year they will be getting lots of mellies and profusion zinnias.

As for community gardens - there are a few left here in Brooklyn, though rather far from me. Problem is, we're rapidly losing green space here in NYC - developers buying up any space they can for putting up luxury condos and ballparks. Progress, ya know? Folks are "fighting city hall" every day, so to speak. So far, not so good. They make promises of jobs as they pack your bed on your back and bid you a fond farewell.

Hey, pit - I was thinking of you when I wrote the post originally. I was SURE you'd have some ideas for me! LOL!!

Hmmm .. I'm down the street from Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. Maybe they want some plants? LOL!

PV

LOL! You can become a supplier to the BBG!

Hey, I just thought of something that I suggested to my mom who lives in an apartment in DC (without even a balcony!) - what about getting a roof-top garden started? Any possibility of that?

Dee

I vote for giving away everything that's moveable, and planting a completely different landscape - or vary that by the risk factor you think you might be comfortable with.

Oh- Oh- Oh!!!!
How about a small side "business"- starting in your building- Creating Balcony Gardens for others!
Just think of the many varieties you could harvest from- and enjoy gardening on all sides of the building!! Sun- Shade- and every thing in between!
They wouldn't need to know that they are still "your" gardens, they could think that they were theirs.....

julie - I think that is a great idea.... I bet there are a lot of people in the building who think she buys all those plants... for less money, and more money for PV... they could have gorgeous balconies too.

Good luck - pvick (I always love your pictures)

Carrie

I'm already known as the "Plant Lady" in my building. Having trouble with a plant? There's a lady on the 11th floor who might be able to help you .... it's amazing how much I have learned about plants since I started WSing.

There's one other tenant in the building who is as plant crazy as I am (been here 3 years now) ... she's 2 floors directly beneath me and her balcony is as crammed as mine. She's still buying her plants, though. I think I'll drop in her on her with a "WS kit". Maybe I can get her interested.

Or, I could offer to conduct a WS class for interested tenants. That's an idea for the next association meeting ...

PV

All great ideas!
I think you need to have that Yvonne's Salvia again...at least! Maybe some trailing annuals like Bacopa tucked into some of your existing perennials? The shepherd's hooks sound like a good idea too :D

I also have a small yard so I joined my local garden club and they have a big Butterfly/Hummingbird garden at the Nature Center where they meet. I can now grow plants for that garden which gives me reason to keep on Winter Sowing!! Perhaps there might be a school around that would be interested in your help. Are there any schools near you that aren't surrounded completely by concrete?
Joann

No, no, no - pvick - that's not going to help YOUR balcony - ha ha

You need to grow the flowers on your balcony and SELL them (or donate) them to your friends in the building - this way you can grow stuff and still get to see them.... huh?

Carrie

Same boat here- loaded with seeds, no space left. I already went vertical with climbers, added containers last year and developed every spare piece of my property. Same as you, I like plants I am growing now and even if I have some die back it is not going to empty enough space for all those new plants I want to have. Am planning friendly encroach on my neigbor's garden with annuals/ not to scare her with any permanency ;) but that's about it.
Have no advice. Just choose what you can not live this year without and make do with it?