summer garden on 1,000 foot terrace

The sidewalk shed that was erected in February is still up, in all its ugliness. And worse, it's been four months and no work has begun.  Nada.

I need a change of perspective.

I buy some flowery plants and put them outside my bedroom window. I get the idea from my neighbor, Ronnie, as I would never have come up with this idea myself.  I go to the local florist, and buy three little pots of geraniums, as I'm told these flowers will keep re-blooming and should last through the fall.

I'm thinking, I'll put them outside my bedroom window, the weather will take care of feeding and looking after them.  That's how much I know about caring for plants.

A few days later I go back to the florist because my flowers don't look happy.

"How often are you watering them?"

"Huh?  I had no idea I had to water them."

The florist owner looks at me in disbelief. "Plants are living things. Of course you have to water them."

I go home and use a water spritzer. The plants don't respond well. I go back to the florist.

"You don't get the flowers wet. You water the soil."  He's probably thinking, you don't deserve to own flowers or plants of any kind.

I buy a plastic watering can with a long spout to make it easier.

"Did you replant them?

"Did I what?"

This is becoming quite an investment.

"You can't keep them in their little pots. They need more soil. More room to grow."

He suggests I buy a larger pot, some soil and replant them.

I ask if he can do that. He says yes.  So I pay him to do just that.

Now I water my plants regularly. I like seeing them outside my bedroom window — nice color added to my lovely makeshift terrace (if you can get past the exposed nails).  

Maybe I'll put a beach chair out and read on my deck; it's supposed to be a nice day.

I wonder how much an outdoor grill would be?

It's all a matter of perspective.