I reside in downtown Jeffersonville, Indiana now
It’s different.
I had lived and gardened previously in nearby rural Depauw. It would seem the old saw about change being the only constant in life is a biting reality. While my garden grew larger each year, fuller every season, it aged beyond expectations. The older it became the better looking, as I aged, the more I headed in the opposite direction.
Tiny wild ginger, Hexastylis shuttleworthii, with fern whose original label disappeared long ago
Age alone did not end my gardening, but rather a combination of age along with “technical difficulties” in the health department. It all came to an end late last spring. I had made my usual trips to favored garden centers and came home with three new perennials. I headed to the garden with the containers and my spade, ready to find them a new home. I transplanted one plant, moved to the next location in the bed, and found I did not have what it took to go on.
“This is insane. I simply cannot do this any longer”.
I sat the remaining two containers down and took the spade to the greenhouse.
Thus ended my forty-five years of hillside shade gardening
My home and garden went up for sale and I moved into my apartment in the latter part of May. I am still emptying boxes and will be for some time to come. All the containers I prepared with plants from my garden now reside on my 4’ x 12’ balcony. Therein lies my problem. Perhaps you can help. There are now 12 containers of various sizes. Since the door opens outward onto the balcony that leaves space for one chair. I had visions of two chairs with a small bistro table alongside my containers. So. It could be just me and a couple/three more containers, or perhaps a waterfall feature or Japanese lantern.
Arisaema fargesii and epimedium
I am full of ideas
I like the idea of more containers to play with, perhaps that Japanese lantern and a dragon, but if I keep that up there will be only room for me to open the door and look out at the display. I have always designed my gardens so that I could be among my plants, not on the outside looking upon them from a distance. So, keep what containers I have now and order one chair? If I give up about half the containers presently on the balcony, I would then have room for two chairs and a bistro table. A place to sit with a fellow gardening visitor among the memories of my past gardens and share a glass of wine. It sounds so inviting and comfortable. But, (and you knew there would be a but) that would mean giving up more of my “memory plants” such as partridge berry, walking fern, and dwarf snow trillium from my garden. But I put so much thought and emotion into the plants arranged in each container; each one a memory, a story.
Reduce what I managed to bring with me? That’s even tougher.
Which way do you lean?
Speaking of chairs, the first ones to come to mind were the old metal lawn chairs from my childhood. Talk about retro! In all these years I did not know they were called Tulip Back chairs. I was familiar with C spring patio chairs. I mostly remember them in red with white arms and springy. I am going for an updated retro look in a modern shade of green. Probably include cushions in floral patterns of black, brown, and off-white.
Chardonnay should be a complementary color, don’t you think?
I dread the day I will have to give up my house and yard. Hope you make the adjustment okay.
Can some of your containers go inside, maybe under a grow light? I’ve found that many of my houseplants don’t care for direct sunlight, so they decorate my fireplace mantle. I don’t use the fireplace, so I plan to put a grow light inside it and put the more sun-loving plants on the hearth.
Good luck!
Gosh, it’s hard not to feel sad about your situation but we all know everyone of us will someday be in the same boat. Even though I am a “young 75” I can no longer work like the fool I was back in my youth when I was a landscape contractor. Down sizing my own garden has been difficult and at least I have wised up to hire help on the heavy lifting tasks. But, when I finally get to the “apartment” chapter of my life I have fantasized that I will get my gardening fix vicariously by helping out in other peoples garden with little chores that I am still able to do. Finally, if I were you I would go rogue and try to tuck some of your treasures in the common areas of the building grounds with or without permission, and if you get caught just ask for forgiveness. Good luck
Gene,
I am of the same vintage as you . . . and nearing the day that gardening activities become more sedentary. You have my sympathy.
Consider replacing your patio swinging door with a sliding door. Yes, it will cost an unreasonable amount of money. Likely, you have the money, but lack the space for two bistro chairs. Your wine deserves to be drunk with company. Gardens, I believe, are better shared.
Regards,
John
I’ve been gardening on my apartment porches and patios for all my adult life. Is there any way to go vertical? If you can move a pot or three to hang from a wall or railing, that might open up space for another chair and table without having to get rid of plants.
It’s good example you are setting for us gardeners who are facing changes in the upcoming years. That is…accept the changes with grace. Imagine how plants will continue beinng an important part of these years.
Thank you…from a neighbor a bit south of Louisville.
It would sure help if you showed us a photo of the balcony you’re describing!
Not quite there yet but my only shaded porch was becoming overcrowded until I discovered pot holders that hang on the railing, both inside and outside of it, and others that climb up the wall. Then of course a few plants have migrated to that table leaving enough room for two glasses of wine, the bottle and a candle. Love that you are handling the transition with such grace and humor.
Now in my eighties with a number of gardens sadly turned under, there are shady spots remaining where Munchkin Nursery treasures still give joy…it must have been very difficult to choose which specimens to take with you, like picking a favorite child!
Excellent advice from all the above commenters. My grandmother was an avid gardener and as she continued to age and downsize into smaller and smaller apartments she always had containers and more plants than she could find places for. It gave her great joy and she often said ‘that without her plants she wouldn’t know what to do’. Hence, I am of the opinion that as your container plants provide you with such wonderful memories and, you derive such pleasure from them, that one chair amongst them will bring you the most joy.
Gene, what I love about your piece is the recognition that “keeping it up” wasn’t what you wanted to continue doing with your time or your physical self. I too, had a beautiful cottage garden I had nurtured for 10 years. I relished the compliments I got from neighbors and finding the perfect place to tuck another perennial and see if I’d chosen wisely. I miss the experience of my larger garden, and to some degree I miss the peace I had working in it. But having downsized to a patio with two chairs and a bistro table, my pots positioned and boxes attached to my porch rails, I am here to tell you that planning excursions to enjoy the gardens of others can be and is a meaningful substitute. I don’t enjoy them any less having scaled back what I have to tend myself. And so, so much easier on my hands, so they can continue to hold that glass of wine and toast with friends and enjoy the compliments on my new gardening adventures. Bravo to your next phase of gardening!
Get a Baker’s rack and fill the shelves! Planters that afix to the balcony railing, and hanging baskets. I agree with Susan Harris – a picture would help readers provide good suggestions! What are the balcony measurements? This gives new meaning to the phrase “small space gardening”. I hope you report back as this project progresses! Lots of pictures please! Happy balcony gardening.
Others have done such a good job with excellent suggestions that all I can offer is one additional thing – if you feel you can’t give up all the containers right now, go ahead and order 2 matching chairs and the table now, and only put out the one chair (assuming you can keep the others inside your apt). That way when some things die or you decide you really want the other chair/table, you don’t have to go searching for a match. And, may I say I have given much thought to what I will do when I reach your situation (70’s now). Thanks for the tips and good luck.
What is the weight limit of your balcony? Bakers racks are a delight for saving space. Most.of our plants are shade plants so ‘trialing’ some in large containers on racks is effective.
Another commenter offered a good idea, so I’ll repeat it: can you go vertical?
If you can hire a handyman (or get a handy friend to help you) build a *vertical plant shelf*, you can fit far more plants. Also, your balcony railing can probably support a few plants with the right attachment method.
On a side note, I gardened on a balcony for a while too, and I found that some plants do not care for the additional wind exposure and were unwilling to live there. So, I hope you’re prepared for some potential casualties, and that you do not take it hard if that happens. I’m not nearly as good a gardener as you though, so I suspect you’ll have a lot more success than me!
Hi Gene,
Thank you for sharing your challenges. I like the baker’s rack / go vertical idea. How about a folding chair for your guests? Tuck it away when not in use. Or put a plant on a guest chair and move to the floor, when company is over. I spent 5 years in my 20’s living in apartment without a balcony. My containers lived at the bottom of my stairs and I enjoyed them on the stair steps. Gardeners are a resourceful bunch. Keep all your plant treasures as long as they bring you joy. I know sometimes, its not about the plant, but about the memory.
I too planned to suggest going vertical if possible, or as Tina suggested, keeping a plant on a chair, and just moving it when guest(s) come over.
Another thought is to take cuttings or divisions of whatever plants you can and start them in smaller pots. Once they’ve taken off, maybe you can move or remove the larger specimens and just have smaller pots of the same plants. I know, not quite the same as the original, but they would be their babies, kinda like your grandplants.
I appreciate you sharing your experience with having to give up a garden. It can’t have been easy.