I’ve been a city dweller since birth.  I’m talking fast-paced, crowded, loud, apartment dwelling, city living.  Don’t get me wrong.The controlled madness of city life is something I always enjoyed.  I love the access to all sorts of activities and entertainment at my fingertips.  But, I also love the color and scent of beautiful flowers, and picking them up at the corner flower shop, before I come home each night, just isn’t cutting it any more.  

 Recently, I’ve wanted to make some changes in my life.  Slow things down.  Stop and smell the roses, if you will.Things are so chaotic at work right now that I want my home (aka my apartment) to be the tranquil, comforting spot I return to each night. 

When I said, “Stop and smell the roses” earlier, I meant that literally.  I am very jealous of those people who have enough room in their yards for an outstanding flower garden.   This started me wondering why I can’t have it all.  Living in the city and tending to a flower garden. 

What to do, what to do!?  Then it came to me.  I could create my own flower garden out on the balcony of my apartment.  Don’t laugh!  This is do-able!Now I want to do some research, getting some help turning my drab balcony into a Garden of Eden.   

Now, I’m like many other single people today, who carefully budget their income, and I understood what an investment transforming my balcony would be.I wanted to find flower pots and seeds that were inexpensive yet flower pots and seeds that added beauty to my balcony.  I did a lot of scientific research to find the best flowers for the climate I live in, that would grow in the blazing sun of morning and shade in the afternoon, and would re-flower each spring … oh who am I kidding?  I picked flowers, first off, because I liked their colors.  The Purple Coneflowers and Foxgloves both have beautiful shades of purple.  I made sure they both grow all summer and even into the early fall.Lucky for me, these two flowers are really easy to take of (the Coneflowers are even drought tolerant).  After all, I don’t have a well developed “green thumb” yet.  I am just getting started. 

I found some really cool wrought iron planter brackets to place my pots into.  My balcony is also made of wrought iron and these brackets can be hung right off of it.  There is room for about five pots in it or space to just plant the seeds directly into the planter.Adjustable mounts for the flower pots I purchased are available in case I decide to add more single pots or hanging baskets in the future. 

There are so many choices out there!  I am thrilled it is springtime and I can get started on my new “garden” soon.