ZARİF GARDEN & HOME
A Warm Winter Corner on the Balcony
Greenery in the pots, shawls on the chairs, a cup of tea on the table: in November we bring the garden to the balcony.
We don't have to close the balcony door just because November has come. On a mild, dry day the balcony still calls us outside; even a short time spent out there can be a lovely pause in the day. With a few pots, a comfortable seating area and a soft shawl to wrap around our shoulders, the balcony becomes one of the home's best-loved corners even as winter approaches.
This month we start with an empty balcony. First we get to know the space, then we arrange the plants and furniture. In the end, when we look at the same balcony again, we see a small winter garden where we want to sit down with our tea.
First, look at it empty
Before you begin decorating, clean the balcony and remove anything you don't use. Mark the area where the door opens and a path where you can walk freely. Leave nothing that stops rainwater from reaching the drains.
Watch where the light falls during the day. A corner that gets the morning sun and a part that stays in shade all day may not suit the same plants. Also note which corner catches the wind, where the rain reaches and what view you see when you sit down; let these be the starting point of your layout.
Take a photograph before the transformation. The final photograph, taken from the same angle, will show how a few right choices have changed the balcony.
Two chairs, a small table
Place two comfortable outdoor chairs turned slightly towards each other. Between them, set a round table that can hold the cups and a small plate of treats. When you stand up, you should be able to reach the door easily. On small balconies a single chair and a folding table are enough too; choose furniture to suit the size of the space.
With cream seat cushions, cushions in apricot and peach tones and honey-coloured wood or light-coloured metal surfaces, you can create a warm, bright whole. Use outdoor fabrics in the exposed parts; bring out velvet cushions and wool shawls when you sit outside, and store them indoors in a dry place after use.
Prepare the shawls
Leave a shawl on each chair; you could use vanilla on one and light caramel on the other. The shawls should be soft in texture and large enough to cover the shoulders and knees.
A small basket keeps spare throws at hand in dry weather. Bringing the textiles inside when the evening ends keeps them clean and dry for the next tea time.
What Are We Planting in Balcony Pots in November?
The plants will frame this arrangement. This month, rather than waiting for quick blooms from seed, let's start with healthy seedlings and potted plants. Winter pansies and violas are lovely choices for flowers; ivy and cherry laurel for lasting green texture. In winter, flowering may come and go depending on the weather.
Pansies and violas: light-coloured flowers
Choose seedlings in cream, white and soft yellow tones. If you find colours close to apricot, you can add a few as accents. Repeating the same colour family creates a pleasing harmony on a small balcony.
Place the flowering pots in the part of the balcony that gets the most light in winter. Remove faded flowers regularly; plant without crowding, leaving room for the plants to grow.
Ivy: greenery trailing over the edge of the pot
We can use ivy where it can trail down over the edge of a pot. Green or variegated varieties go beautifully with cream pots. Don't let the stems grow towards the walkway or the heater.
Cherry laurel: the balcony's permanent structure
A compact variety of cherry laurel can create a year-round green focus beside the flowers. At your local nursery, choose a variety suited to your balcony's light and winter temperatures. By planting it in a separate, sufficiently large pot, you can change the seasonal flowers around it over time.
Cyclamen: choose the species knowingly
White cyclamen look very elegant in a sheltered corner of the balcony. But not all cyclamen are equally cold-hardy. Cyclamen persicum, commonly seen at florists, is not frost-hardy; on nights when frost is expected it should be moved to a bright, cool, frost-free place. For a plant that will stay on an open balcony, ask for hardy species.
Hardy species such as Cyclamen hederifolium can be enjoyed for their autumn flowers and patterned leaves. Because their flowering time differs, ask how they will look in November when you buy them.
Our balcony's planting plan
Let's imagine a compact cherry laurel against the wall, with two pots of cream pansies in front of it. Let ivy trail over the edge of one pot. A separate pot of white cyclamen in the sheltered part can then be moved easily when needed.
Group the large pots along the wall and the smaller ones near the seating area. Keep the view and the walkway clear; do not place heavy pots on the railing. Let the flowers be light-coloured and the greenery distinct, and let pots in cream and light earth tones complete the decor.
Prepare the pots step by step
1. Check the drainage holes.
Use pots with a drainage hole underneath. Empty any water that collects inside a decorative outer pot; don't leave the roots standing in water.
2. Choose a suitable potting mix.
Use a mix designed for containers that suits the plant's needs. In balcony pots, a structure that drains water matters more than heavy garden soil that compacts.
3. Set the seedlings in place.
Ease the plant gently out of its nursery pot. Keep the top of the root ball at its previous soil level and fill around it with potting mix. Don't over-compact the soil as you press it down.
4. Water and let it drain.
Water after planting and let the excess drain out. Water again not by the calendar, but by checking the moisture of the mix. Standing water in pots is a serious problem in winter.
5. Raise the pots slightly off the floor.
Suitable pot feet help water drain freely. Place the pots securely; keep the drains clear.
The warmth of a fireplace look
In a suitable corner of the balcony, an electric heater in the style of a fireplace, with a flame and ember effect, can become the focal point of the decor. A body in light stone or cream tones with fine gold details completes the cream and apricot palette.
Here the choice is not only about looks: the manufacturer must clearly state that the device is suitable for the conditions of the open or enclosed balcony where it will be used. An electric fireplace made for indoor use does not become suitable for an open balcony just because the balcony is covered.
Position it according to the device's manual. Keep the air inlets and outlets clear; leave pots, cushions and shawls beyond the stated distances. Do not enclose the device in a decorative box. Also have the socket and electrical connection checked for outdoor use.
If a suitable device and connection cannot be arranged, you can create a fireplace atmosphere with outdoor lights and battery LED candles. These lights give no heat; they complete the evening look of the corner. In cool weather you can take your shawl and enjoy a short break with your hot tea.
The evening light
Small, warm-toned outdoor lights give the balcony a lovely depth in the evening. Place a lantern with a flameless candle on the table or on a stable surface that does not block the way. As the evening sky turns navy, the greenery around the warm lights and the flowers in the pots reveal the balcony's new look.
A finishing touch, one cup at a time
On the small table, set cream porcelain cups with pale apricot flowers, linen napkins and a plate of treats. On a narrow table, keep the teapot and extra treats on a serving tray indoors and bring small portions outside: two almond biscuits, a few small savoury buns or a thinly sliced cake. Then take your shawl and sit down.
BEFORE / AFTER: THE BALCONY TRANSFORMED
Before: a clean, simple balcony; floor, railing, view and empty space.
After: the same balcony; two chairs, a round table, cream seat cushions, apricot cushions, shawls, pots and warm lights.
Seen from the same angle, the transformation is clear. Every piece has its place and a purpose in daily use.
A little care all winter long
Check the moisture of the soil, remove faded flowers and yellowing leaves. After rain, check whether water has collected under the pots. Follow frost and strong-wind forecasts and protect delicate plants.
Adapt your choice of plants to your city's climate, the height of the balcony and the light it receives. A sheltered balcony in Istanbul and an open balcony in a colder city do not offer the same conditions.
A SHORT CHECKLIST FOR YOUR BALCONY CORNER
– A clear walkway and unblocked drains
– Chairs facing each other and a small round table
– Cushions, seat pads and dry shawls in cream, apricot and honey tones
– Pansies, violas, ivy and cherry laurel in pots with drainage
– A separate pot of cyclamen that can be moved to shelter when needed
– Warm outdoor lights
– Clearance around any heat source as stated in the manual
In November our garden can shrink to fit on the balcony. The care we give a few pots creates a new reason to sit outside.
AT HOME: AFTERNOON TEA BY THE FIRESIDE
In a home with a fireplace, setting tea time around the fire can be one of November's loveliest home rituals. As the day shortens outside, the cups are prepared indoors and small treats come to the table.
Make room for conversation
Rather than lining up two armchairs to face only the fireplace, turn them slightly towards each other. That way you can both see the fire and talk comfortably. Keep the armchairs, the side table and the textiles at the safe distance the fireplace requires; leave the area in front of the hearth clear.
A small table can be enough for two. For a larger tea party, placing the treats on a separate serving table frees up space in front of everyone.
Cream, apricot and champagne gold
Begin with a cream linen cloth or napkins. Complete the table with apricot-patterned porcelain, a few peach-toned flowers and plates with fine gold rims.
If the table is small, it can be used without a cloth; let the texture of the wood or stone show. Keep the flowers in a low vase so they don't stop guests from seeing one another.
A balance of sweet and savoury
Three small treats, one savoury and two sweet, are enough for tea time. For example, tiny cheese buns, almond biscuits and thinly sliced orange cake can be served together.
Prepare the treats in small portions. Putting a few pieces on a plate and refilling it when needed lets you use the table comfortably. Find out about your guests' dietary preferences and allergies beforehand.
Serve the tea at the right moment once it has brewed. Prepare small dishes for those who prefer sugar, milk or lemon; keep hot water at hand too. Those who want to try different flavours with herbal teas can use the brewing suggestions in this issue's Nutrition section.
The evening light
A soft table lamp can accompany the light of the fireplace. Make sure there is enough light to see the cups and plates easily. Flameless candles add a small glow too.
A throw waiting on the armchair, fresh tea on the side table and a few treats to share… When everything is ready, sit down at the table and enjoy this hour.
On the balcony or by the fireside: the loveliest detail of November tea time is the time we set aside to sit together.