Outdoor Furniture For Balconies

I live in an apartment in the city center of Istanbul, our flat has only three small balconies. I have plants in all the balconies.

In Istanbul -especially in the old town - the streets are narrow, buildings are side by side. There aren't many trees or small parks. In order to make our lives colorful we, grow flower in pots in windows stills or in our balconies.

Istanbul has a mild climate, many plants can grow in the balconies. Even in winter the plants can stay in the balcony. Only when it snows, I cover all the pots with a thick plastic wrapper. We Turks like violet, Istanbul is famous with its tulips. Geranium and red roses are liked by people. Hydrangea is also a good choice for a balcony garden as this flower likes shade.

My living room's balcony is the biggest among those three. I bought three folding chairs and a small table. The chairs and the table are red. This color made my small balcony more lively. I have pots and pots of flowers.

So my balcony is a place where I can sit and drink coffee, read a book. Sometimes we sit and chat with one or two friends (I do no't have room for a third one:)))

We live in Bakirkoy, Istanbul. a central district in the old city. I like living in the city center as city centers are lively, I can walk to theaters, cinemas, shopping centers but on the other side, Bakirkoy,is very, very crowded, our flat only sees other apartments. There aren't many parks around.

In order to make my view better, I planted colorful flowers, evergreen small plants to my three small balconies.

Also as our living room has a squire balcony (1.5 metric square). I wanted to use that area as a small open area to drink coffee and to relax. I bought three red, plastic fold-able kitchen chairs from a big furniture company, a red transparent side table ,called Halten, very small, has a tray also and is very usable..

Our small balcony is now like a garden for me. I have a grape plant which I bought from Bozcada - Turkey. ( I love this island very much and made a hub about this island : http://hubpages.com/travel/bozcada-tenedos)

I also have many pots of geraniums, begonia, some spring flowers, sometimes I plant vegetables like onion and peas. Onion has very beautiful white flowers.

Making a balcony garden is a way to relax at home.