It’s time for another Urban Jungle Bloggers post and I’m very happy to be joining once again. This month’s theme is: ‘Show your green balcony or window sill’.
We have a little balcony with a few different plants and herbs growing in pots on it.
I particularly love growing herbs because as well as making attractive plants, they also have so many other uses. Some can be added to your cooking or chopped raw into salads. While the leaves from others can be infused to make delicious herbal teas. And of course, they have such beautiful aromas.
It’s lovely to sit out on the balcony when the weather is warm. Especially on sultry summer evenings to read or do some writing. Up until this year, though, I never really had a nice place to sit. We just used plastic chairs.
Then one day in late autumn Samuel Ansbacher came home with a surprise – a belated wedding anniversary gift. It was a bench for the balcony!
It’s a very special bench because he handmade it. And it is completely made out of recycled materials. The solid wood slats for the seat came from wooden garden decking offcuts that someone had thrown out. And the steel frame, from an old industrial air conditioning unit support bracket, which he reconfigured and welded.
We kept it indoors over the winter. But now that spring is here we can finally enjoy the bench.
Not only is it a lovely place to sit , but it’s also a great place to display plants.
So far, I’ve added three plants. A peppermint with deep green leaves which can be used to make a refreshing tea.
A lavender with intricate little purple flowers. Aren’t they beautiful?
The third one is this lovely basil which I got recently. Basil usually has big flat leaves. But this one has smaller ones and looks like a mini bush. I really like the shape of it. I discovered it’s called Greek Bush Basil. (But interestingly, despite its name it is thought to have originated from Chile.)
All of them give off a gorgeous scent. Which makes it a beautiful place to sit and work or relax.
I hope you have enjoyed this month’s post. Do you have any plants growing on your window sill, balcony or garden?
Urban Jungle Bloggers is a monthly series initiated by two bloggers: Igor of Happy Interior Blog and Judith of JOELIX.com. Every month a group of bloggers join up and share ideas to create an urban jungle through styling ideas, DIYs, green tips and tricks. For even more inspiration, you can visit the Urban Jungle Bloggers Pinterest or Facebook Page.
What a wonderful green nook on your balcony. I would really like to have one myself for some after work coffee hours with my favorite magazines or books. Wishful thinking! See you soon!
I do hope you get one soon too. And I’d love to see how you style it! 🙂
What a great Bench…. how amazing he made it himself. Your herbs and flowers look great.
Thanks so much. I think we share a mutual love of fresh herbs!
Wow, what an awesome bench! I love how your husband made it himself, those are the best gifts (especially if they’re this nice ;)! Your herbs look like they’re in great shape. One tip about the mint, if you’re planning on repotting it: keep it in its own pot. I did not and planted it in my mini veggy garden and now it grows everywhere: it roots very easily. Although I love fresh mint tea, this is a little too much 😉 Thanks for showing your green balcony, Sarah!
Absolutely, they really are the best gifts. Thanks for the tip about the mint – it’s staying firmly in its pot 🙂
How lovely is your Greek basil! Lovely corner!
Thanks so much. The aroma is divine too!
Love your balcony herbs. Especially the purple flowers!
Thank you 🙂