Rain pouring down outside today, and not much to do but be grateful that I don't necessarily have to go out. (It may still clear up in the afternoon, though.)
The photo above was taken on a somewhat sunnier day. It's the view from my favourite place at my kitchen table. From that angle, I don't see the next building, and - this time of year - nothing but green trees and a bit of sky. It's my "breakfast view" every morning, and a good start to the day. (Also in winter, because even with the trees bare, I only see the top of other buildings far off.)
My African Violets
Painted nettles. They grow fast and are easy to propagate: just put cuttings in water. Actually, last winter I put some cuttings in vases and just left them like that (did not get round to planting them)... They lived on for months on nothing but tap water, just sprouting more and more roots - just like that little one is doing now...
PS. It struck me after I'd already published this post that today it's exactly 15 years ago that I moved into this flat. And the view from that window was one of the "selling points" to me the first time I came to look at the flat, about three months before that. (Figuratively speaking, as I wasn't buying it, just renting.)
Your windowsill plants look wonderfully healthy.
ReplyDeleteI hope your rain does clear up. We were stuck indoors all day yesterday as it just did not stop pouring down.
JC, I tried a walk in what I thought was a break from the rain, but a few minutes from home it was pouring down again. I had an umbrella and was wearing a rain jacket and was only out for 10-15 min but had to change trousers and socks when I got back home...
DeleteI had an African Violet in my office for many years until one day it just gave up the ghost. Painted Nettles is a name I've not heard before. I called them Coleus, They are splendid. I've never tried propagating them but if they grow roots that enthusiastically they are presumably easy to propagate.
ReplyDeleteGraham, they probably have many names. Painted Nettles is the English name that I found most resembling what we call them in Swedish. (A direct translation of what I've always called them would be something like "palette leaves".)
DeleteThe African Violets are looking wonderful; in perfect shape! And forget the view, what I always love to look at is those curtains!! I have loved them for many years.
ReplyDeleteGinny, those African Violets are fairly new (bought maybe a year or so ago). As for the view, that was what first caught my eye when I entered that kitchen for the very first time (visiting the flat to decide whether I'd like to live there or not). Come to think of it - it's exactly 15 years ago today that I moved in!!! (I did not even think of that when writing this post...)
DeleteI have enjoyed your window for about 14 years, the veiw, the curtains, the plants, any and all changes to this window and your other window on the world. we bought our house because of the view out the front window and the sliding glass doors and the big room that has both in the same room. we still love it after 34 years.
ReplyDeleteSandra, you and some other followers of my blog around the world are more frequent visitors in my home than any of my so called "IRL" friends living in the same town... :)
DeleteI love your painted nettles, we call them coleus, and I might buy a small one and make a few to sit around the house. did not realize they root in water.
ReplyDeleteWhat is outside the place where we live can be just as important than what‘s inside. You know how much joy the view from my kitchen window gives me, but I can not claim it was a selling point - when I first set foot in what became my flat 20 years ago, I simply felt „at home“ right away, and knew my husband and I could be happy there.
ReplyDeleteMeike, of course an overall impression was what made me decide; but that window was the first thing that "caught my eye" when I first came to view the flat. (The kitchen was the first room I was shown into, by the previous tenant.)
DeleteYou have a really nice kitchen window, the violets are so pretty but I can't grow them for some reason. The nettles here are also called Coleus.
ReplyDeleteThanks Amy. I'm no expert on them but a book I have recommends they should not have too much sun in summer, but can be moved to a sunnier window in winter.
Delete(referring to the African violets)
DeleteThat is a lovely indoor "garden", and I love those curtains too.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have window sills on the inside of the window, they are outside, so nowhere to enjoy plants in the winter months, or display prized ornaments.
Carol, I love the broad marble window sills in this flat as they're also rather deep, like little recesses into the wall.
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