Pots of early spring
A pale pink and true blue beginning to spring on the balcony:
A Year in Flowers, Week 13: The Balcony Garden
Muscari armeniacum (Grape Hyacinths)
The colour, flower structure, and growth habit of Muscari armeniacum have totally captivated me.
“Muscari armeniacum, commonly called grape hyacinth, is an early spring-blooming bulbous perennial that is native to southeastern Europe (including Armenia). It features conical racemes of slightly fragrant, tightly packed, deep violet blue, urn-shaped flowers atop scapes rising to 8” tall in early spring. Each bulb produces 1-3 scapes with 20-40 flowers per scape. Each flower has a thin white line around the rim. Dense inflorescence purportedly resembles an elongated, upside-down bunch of grapes, hence the common name.”
Information source: Missouri Botanical Garden
Blooming on the balcony: late February
Ranunculus
The new balcony garden
Small and slow: my strategy for restoring the balcony garden.
The first additions (clockwise from top): Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Rashamiba', Podocarpus alpinus 'Red Tip', Ilex crenata 'Dwarf Pagoda'.
White and red on the balcony
A vase of 'Snow Sonata' Cosmos
'Five Alarm Red' potted chrysanthemum
Viola cornuta 'Etain'
Violet and lemon-yellow Viola cornuta 'Etain' on my balcony, late May. Combine with 'Red Russian' kale in the same or a neighbouring pot to create a pretty, cottage garden style pairing.
Eggplant Harvest
From my balcony garden:
Eight plump 'Little Fingers' grew from seeds sown on March 21st. Worth the 6-month wait until harvest time? Absolutely.