This month’s Urban Jungle Bloggers challenge is to show our green balcony or window sill. I chose the balcony knowing full well that this might be my last opportunity to show some outdoor for a few months as we’re heading into winter over here.
I actually cheated a little with this challenge. We don’t have a balcony, it’s a huge deck, so I tried very much to move things around and create a little green balcony scene. I don’t know if I succeeded in the illusion of a balcony or not?
Putting this together reminded me of the days when we lived in Darlinghurst and Surry Hills in the inner city of Sydney. We had a small balcony, which we filled with plants to create a little oasis in our concrete playground; I even attempted to grow vegetables at one point, albeit with not much success.
Here as expats in Auckland I’m so conscious of how lucky we are to have so much outdoor space. We’re not far from the downtown and only a short walk from a bit of an inner city hub and having a garden really is the norm.
I love this old Bavarian beer trestle table, we spend so much time outside in the warmer months eating our meals on it or having some time out with a cup of tea during the day and to top it off, it overlooks the Waitakere Ranges in the west of Auckland. The west is where the sun sets so we get the most magnificent sunsets most days.
On our “balcony” we have some rosemary in a pot that’s flowering its beautiful purple flowers at the moment, we have a Camilla plant that hasn’t been too happy lately because we’ve had a bit of a problem with aphids this year although when there is even one flower, the perfume is simply intoxicating. There’s also a geranium with just one flowering bud today but it can at times be a massive ball of red blooms. There’s also a bunch of succulents, always my favourites and I adore the stone pots they’re in.
For more green inspiration be sure to take a look at Igor’s greenhouse windowsill and Judiths thriving window sill along with all of the other bloggers by searching with #urbanjunglebloggers on twitter and Instagram. You can join along too! See the below description and links for details.
To my Kiwi and Aussie readers, have a lovely Anzac Day long weekend. My youngest boy attended the dawn service this morning with Guillaume, such a special thing to do together and emotional to remember the sacrifices of others.
Mel xx
P.S A little introduction to our other family member, Itou (pronounced E-2). Handsome isn’t he? While I was taking the photos he kept on jumping in and posing so I knew he wouldn’t mind to be featured on AP&C today.
Urban Jungle Bloggers is a monthly series hosted by 2 bloggers: Igor (Happy Interior Blog) and Judith (JOELIX.com). Every month they share ideas to create an urban jungle through styling ideas, DIYs and green tips & tricks. You can find additional inspiration on the Urban Jungle Bloggers Pinterest board and keep up-to-date via their Facebook page. Use #urbanjunglebloggers on Twitter and Instagram.
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Hello Mel,
I am glad to visit again and I have seen the urban blogger theme around with great pleasure, all the more as we do not have any outdoor space here in Paris :-/ Maybe soon enough as we are trying to buy our own apartment… I love your photos and your “balcony” – you did arrange it beautifully and it makes me…dream :-)
Oh thank you! Yes this urban blogger series really is taking off. You should join in next time or in future, it’s lots of fun!
Such a wonderful space Mel, you did a great job of making it look intimate and I absolutely love your Beer Table and the way you have surrounded it with green! Itou is such a looker also! I really enjoyed getting sneak peak of your outdoor space, Thank You.
Thanks Doris, I had a lot of fun doing it. Mel x
Hi Mel, such a lovely deck you’ve got! It looks amazing. I remember those tables and benches in Auckland, they remind me of my time with the scouting (I hope it’s the correct word in English) while we were on summer camp and eating on them with all my scouting friends hihi :-)
I hope I can join the Urban Jungle when I’m back home. It looks really cool and inspiring! xx
Ha ha you were a Scout? Love it Claudia! You should definitely join in and it could be a nice way and an excuse to introduce new plants into your home as you resettle. M xx
Hi Mel,
What a lovely outdoor space you have there! You have such a wonderful way of creating an intimate space that feels open and peaceful. I love those Bavarian tables too! I contemplated getting one here in AZ yet I had a hard time finding one that wasn’t too large for my petite space. Itou is precious as can be and I am so glad he managed to get in the post!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful space, the photos are lovely as always. Have a fantastic weekend! Jocelyn xx
Thanks Jocelyn! The funny thing is, after moving the table to the corner, I’ve decided to keep it there because I did like the feel to it… If you manage to get a German Beer Table it might work as they are very narrow so it might work? Have a great weekend too! M xx
Woah, so gorgeous, all of it… that tresle table is fab and so are your succulent planters. The teapot is so beautiful and as for Itou, he’s drop dead gorgeous.
Your photography is stunning and I love the light and the way you made it look like a nook and all intimate… not so easy with over 25sqm..
Happy Anzac Day …and happy weekend
xx
Thanks Tina, you’re so kind:) Always such a fun exercise to do as you know. Have a fab weekend yourself, hope you get some time on that amazing rooftop terrace xx
Beautiful blog! Love your balcony (and Itou! :))
Thank you Yvonee and lovely to have you here:)
With the most beautiful teapot in the world on the table!
Thanks Donna. It’s sweet isn’t it? I got it from Tea2 in Newmarket for a little “house” xmas present. xx
I can’t believe you are having this outdoor space! It looks much better than a balcony. That little and so pretty space must give you an extraordinary life quality!
What is the dawn service about? Happy weekend, Mel! xx
Well it’s actually 1/4 of the actual size – it’s approx around 25 or 30m2 ! I tried to make it look like a balcony albeit a large one? The dawn service is to remember lives lost during the war, our version of remembrance day due to a specific event in Gallipoli for the Kiwis and Australians. It happens at dawn (just before sunrise) and is actually quite beautiful to attend. I’ve done it a couple of times in my my life and G did it with Noam this morning. xx
Absolutely gorgeous Mel and so inviting. I can just picture the sun setting there right now – hope you’ve had a relaxing Anzac Day x x
Thanks Michelle, I totally did and I enjoyed that divine weather just there today:-) You should join in on the UJB, it’s so much fun and always a good styling exercise. Hope you had a lovely day also. M xx
Super nice, Mel! Your balcony a.k.a. deck looks amazing. I would love to teleport there today, to have a Bavarian beer with you and Igor while enjoying the sunset ;) (and I don’t even drink beer hahaha). And hi! to Itou, he’s a very handsome. Have a great long weekend!
Oh wouldn’t that be so much fun! I’d make sure there’s some beautiful NZ sauvignon blanc chilling in the fridge for you. xx
What a lovely space Mel and I love the batch and table. Itou is very handsome!! Have a wonderful weekend lovely xx
Thanks Caroline, you too xx
Wow – your outdoor space looks amazing. Can someone teleport me there now? Love your plants, they look incredibly happy! Oh and the Bavarian beer trestle table, well what can I say as someone living in Munich – Prost!
Ha ha, I’d love to share a beer with you here Igor;-)