Gardening" in a condo without a balcony is a challenge, but I am trying, making a mess, but trying. Harry has built two shelves for plants in the condo. He built the first shelf in front of the dining room window and we were soon to realize we were at cross purposes. He wanted a shelf for kitchen herbs and I of course wanted a shelf for, what else, flowers. Thus the need for two shelves. 
So he next built a free standing shelf for the sun room strictly for plants and flowers. Maybe an occasional herb might work on my flower shelf but....Last week, just as I got on the elevator with plants for the shelves, some of the residents riding up with me on the elevator looked confused. I explained Harry and I were building a balcony to put the plants on. They looked more confused,then laughed,deciding it best not to ask any more questions.
I really miss gardening and I really do not miss all the work gardening entails. Love of flowers is, I swear, in the genes. My mother loved her flower gardens and all three of my sisters have a passion for growing flowers. My daughter, the New Yorker, called a few weeks ago to declare she had found peonies in bunches being sold on the street in Manhattan and had treated herself to a big bouquet. I just love flowers, Mom, she exclaimed. Really, I said. I am so surprised!
I had a very large garden at my house on Abbott. It was a lot of work to say the least, not to mention the cost of a large garden. I would begin each year vowing not to spend as much as I did the year before. That never happened. Each year I bought more flowers and more plants. It also did not help that there was a wonderful plant nursery just three blocks from my house. Over 25 years I grew to know the owners and many of the workers at the nursery and they called me by name.
I always felt that the size of the garden on Abbott Street got the best of me until my last year in the house. With Harry's help, I had my best year of gardening ever. I always thought when I retired I would have the time, if not the money, to garden. So here I am now with the time, but no garden. Not to be daunted, I suggested Harry build some shelves we could put plants on. Our dear friend Brian got Harry into woodworking and I am so grateful! We have a marvelous, well- equipped wood-working room down one floor from us where Harry does his projects. Today I was even assisting him on his new project.
I have been learning which plants do well indoors with the light I have available. I have enjoyed it very much but it is extremely messy potting the plants indoors. It would be nice to have an indoor hose. Harry's current project is building a wine rack. For sure, no disagreement on what goes on that set of shelves!!!
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