Preface Container gardening on balconies, patios, porches, terraces, decks, rooftops, or even windowsills is a fun way for those of us without a "real" garden to still get our hands dirty. I find that gardening on my balcony satisfies my need to grow--herbs, peaches, nectarines, figs, blueberries, flowers, and succulents--while still leaving plenty of time and energy for other parts of my life. The space I've created, and the process of caring for it, is also my retreat. When my husband insists on practicing the same song on his guitar, over and over and over, I can easily escape to the relative peace and quiet of my balcony garden. Even though container gardens are inherently less wild than a traditional garden--they are, after all, contained --I love that it's still possible to be surrounded with lushness, beauty, nature, privacy, and style. Connected so intimately to our indoor living areas, balconies, patios, and porches also serve as a transitional space between inside and out that naturally invites personal touches and creativity. Many people love plants and keep on adding to their collection, but feel frustrated that their balcony or patio doesn't reflect their unique style. That's where having a design strategy comes into play. In the first part of the book you'll learn how to make harmonious plant combinations and compositions, pick containers that are equally pleasing to plant and person, and utilize your space--on the floor, up the wall, over the railing--to its fullest potential. You'll get ideas on redefining what makes a container a container, incorporating decorative touches, and, above all, unleashing your personality. Throughout the book you'll also find plenty of practical information that shows you how to deal with unique challenges, like the microclimate of a windy balcony or a patio that gets the brunt of every rain storm. The final two chapters give you a basic crash course in cultivating your container gardening green thumb, as well as troubleshooting some common balcony garden pests and diseases. The five design chapters include multitudes of plant picks and tips to help you attract birds and beneficial insects to your garden, simultaneously satiate your hunger and your discerning eye, create a secret garden hidden away from nearby neighbors and noises, assemble a pathway of stunning succulents and fragrant plants, or luxuriate in a tropically themed refuge. I've included simplified design plans which you can use as inspirational blueprints or as jumping off points to mix and match plants from one chapter to another. No matter how you decide to use this book, I hope it motivates you to head outside and create your own oasis. You won't regret it! Excerpted from Small-Space Container Gardens: Transform Your Balcony, Porch, or Patio with Fruits, Flowers, Foliage, and Herbs by Fern Richardson All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
