Living
Spring living in Sydney
"Evenings are when most of us use outdoor space, so a string of solar lights or a small battery lamp make it welcoming without a cord through the door."
A good place to start is the plants. Dwarf fringed wattle (Acacia fimbriata) is a lovely native shrub that stays low and spreads, and it hardly needs feeding. When the flowers are so heavy that the branches droop, try to resist cutting it back. Japanese wisteria loves full sun and brings native bees and butterflies, though it can take a few years to flower, so be patient, and take care with pruning, since the wrong timing removes next season's blooms. If you like the idea of growing something to eat, radishes sown in full sun are ready in one to two months, and they're happy in a single pot.
A small balcony won't fit a dining table, and that's fine. Chairs that fold or stack and a little side table for drinks are all you need. Pots at different heights bring the green up to eye level, and a clear path from the door to the railing keeps the space feeling open.
Evenings are when most of us use outdoor space, so a string of solar lights or a small battery lamp make it welcoming without a cord through the door. Pots dry out quickly as the days warm up, particularly with the wind on an upper floor, so a quick check every couple of days keeps everything happy.
Sydney springs can be changeable. A warm Saturday afternoon can finish with a southerly that sends everyone inside, so a throw by the door and a table you can move under cover will save the day.
If you'd like some inspiration, a weekend at one of the botanic gardens is lovely. The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney has its Spring Walk, with wisteria, clivias and pansies in September. Mount Annan, in Sydney's south-west, has paper daisies and a big collection of wattles, and Mount Tomah in the Blue Mountains is known for its daffodils. It's worth checking what's in flower before you set off, as it changes from year to year.
If a bigger balcony or a proper garden is on your wish list for your next home, we'd love to help you find it. Talk to the McConnell Bourn team.
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