Apartment life brings new pastimes. I’m not sure what’s the proper term here in Polish apartments – balcony, patio, terrace. In Spain, they were terrazas. I’ll use patio because that’s what we would call them in AZ. Anyway, the apartments in our area all have them, and I’m very grateful. I love being able to step outside for fresh air, to grow some tomato plants, or sit outside and read.
From our kitchen window, we have a good view of the front of the next building. That brings me to my new pastime. I rate and rank my neighbors patios. How would you place them? Surprisingly, the penthouse is not in first place. That honor goes to the folks on the lower left.
The preference in Poland seems to be for planting only one kind of flower – all red geraniums or all purple petunias. I prefer to mix colors and textures. We have a mix of flowers, foliage, herbs, and three busy tomato plants.
I know what the folks across the way must be saying about me. “Her trellis with that scraggly vine is crooked; it’s driving me crazy.”
An accountant by trade and a food blogger since 2009, Lois Britton fell in love with Polish cuisine during the years she lived in Poznań, Poland. As the creator of PolishHousewife.com, she loves connecting readers with traditional Polish recipes. Lois has a graduate certificate in Food Writing and Photography from the University of South Florida. She is the author of The Polish Housewife Cookbook, available on Amazon and on her website.
tralf
Love your patio. It looks cheerful.
madkasia
ahh – Polish balconies!
It makes me all sentimental!
I like how people use their balcony to express their personality. A couple years ago when I was in Poland during Euro Cup there were Polish flags on every balcony! I put it in my blog
http://takiesobieklikanie.blogspot.com/2008/08/o-ppacu-bocianach-i-takich-tam.html
It was back when I didn't blog in English 😉
Lois B
Tralf – thanks; I really enjoy it.
madkasia – just checked out your balcony/flag post. You've got the storks too! So far, I've only caught a glimpse of the top half of a stork on a golf course.
Melinda
Oh, you crazy Americans! 😉
Stardust
I think geraniums are the most popular plants in Poland:) at least for the balconies. My father use to have them really beautiful and when anybody ask what's the secret, he use to say "you have to talk to your plants, give them love". I think he was right:)) So I keep talking to my petunias, marigolds and impations. But the most talking I do with my plumerias, which are the size of
Lois B
Melinda – back at ya 😉
Stardust – plumerias, I'm jealous!
bill
Nothing more manly then seeing a patio with a bbq.