We went to Trader Joe’s and got another orchid to raise. I’m hoping to keep it alive for at least 2 years since the last one lasted only a year and a half. The lady at the check out said she’s thus far killed 8 or 9 of them which made me feel a little better.

So here’s how she looked when we brought her home this weekend. Keeping my fingers crossed!

It lasted 1.5 years. I got it to bloom once. And then, I guess it kicked the bucket from too much water? Not in the right location? I’m not sure. Yesterday I went to a house party where the hostess successfully keeps a very temperamental vanda orchid. I had greenthumb envy. She said it blooms once a year. Ah, if only… I’ll be getting another orchid. I’m determined to try again.

One drawback to balcony gardening is, it makes a mess of your balcony. Dirt, plant debris, and other detritus. I can’t help it. As much as I would like to, I can’t go pouring water on my balcony for a good scrub down without pissing off the neighbors below. Once, out of desperation, I took a vacuum cleaner to the balcony. It tore up my vacuum though so I haven’t tried it again. Talking to our neighbors, who had done some gardening on their balcony in years past, they had the same issue too so this year, they’re forgoing the balcony garden. Admittedly, I haven’t done too much on this garden this year either. Everything that is growing right now was planted last year and survived the winter.

The mint has come back strong and the leaves are broad. I will be harvesting these today for mojitos with friends! We got some very cheap rum from the Virgin Islands. There weren’t that many things worth getting in St. Thomas. How do you bottle up a beautiful beach right? We got some shot glasses, cheap rum, and that was about it.

I am starting some Thai basil soon and maybe sweet potato greens. I don’t know if our balcony gets enough sunlight for the basil, I know it likes a lot of sun but I’ll give it a try. Aside from that, I really like the perennials. It’s so nice to transition into spring with a pre-set garden. Just add water and voila!

It didn’t take a year for this orchid to bloom afterall.

It really started blooming right when we went on our trip to St. Thomas.

I have had this orchid for almost a year and despite the fact that it has been toasted crispy in the sun, dried out, drowned, and uprooted by a misbehaving 2-year old, it has thrived! Looky what it’s sprouted! This is perseverance through adversity.

I might get flowers by next year!

This season of gardening is tapering to an end. I gave my parents my rosemary bush to plant in the ground. Hopefully it will survive the winter. I’ve never had luck planting it in a pot indoors. I think they prefer the wind and drier conditions over stagnant indoor air. I’ve used every herb I grew, except for lemongrass and thyme. Though it was only once for the sage, rosemary, and oregano.

And here is the Serrano chili plant. I think I started this in April and they have finally fruited. I’m guessing I’ll be lucky if I get 3 chilies.

The new batch of sage seeds sprouted in a week. These have grown for a week since sprouting and I’ll probably transfer them outside in another week or two. I’m growing sage indoors and outdoors to see which environment is better. I’m also experimenting with the thyme to see which fares better. So far, the thyme seems to prefer the outdoors, even with the unpredictable temperatures ranging from 80s to 40s this month.

As for the old sage seeds, I dumped them all in the pot and nothing sprouted. I think they were just expired. I have no idea about the chili pepper seeds though. I didn’t know chili plants were so challenging to sprout from seed.