Welcome to my balcony garden project.

This is Herman, the toad.

I smooched the toad for a prince but all I got was this big ape!

Balcony Garden Project: January 2003

It all started after the holidays with dozens of bags of fallen leaves being raked up.

Balcony Garden Project: March 2003

The weather was warming up, 75 degrees most days. Garden furniture, plants and accessories were purchased, repotted and artfully arranged.

Balcony Garden Project: April 2003

Mother Nature said it wasn't yet time for spring and dumped a month of rain on our neighborhood. The balcony drains couldn't handle it and the place flooded. All I need is some gold fish and I'd have a lovely pond!

Balcony Garden Project: May 2003

The sweet smell of success. April showers bring May flowers at last! A bit of rearranging after drying out and my beautiful garden is doing wonderfully.

Kitchen Window Garden Project

Several feet of black 3 inch PVC pipe cut into various lengths as spacers and some oak boards. After three coats of primer and two coats of paint in various shades of green, the window garden was assembled. It's a great place for starting seedlings for the balcony garden. The tomato plants are just about ready for planting outdoors.

Apartment Living

This is one of the many small creeks and ponds in the complex. The ducks, geese and other feathered beasts love it.

Apartment Living

The pool. Not very big or deep but it gets the job done. Just got back from a swim and taking these pictures. It is still early morning so not many folks are about yet.

Apartment Living

The apartment manager's office overlooks the pool. There's a cute barbecue area off to the left of the building. The complex has several barbecue parties for the tenants during the summer.

Apartment Living

My upstairs apartment. Doesn't look that big from the outside but looks are deceiving. The trees really help keep the place cool in the 100+ degree heat we're having.

Apartment Living

My family should immediately recognize this tree. Our childhood home had lots of these silk trees. This one in the complex is in full bloom.

Apartment Living

Speaking of full bloom, here's one of my roses. This one has the most delicate scent. Very sweet smelling. In the evenings when the wind direction is right, the scent drifts into my apartment.

Duck Walk

Out for a walk with the neighbors. This gaggle of ducks followed me all around the apartment complex this afternoon, though I think they were more interested in the cute chick with them then they were in me.