Bali's gates and gardens

Here are more photos of the gardens and gates in Bali. They are everywhere. Downtown as well as in the villages. They are an integral part of the landscape and very much add to the surroundings. The wood and stone work are beautifully intricate. Fitting testimony to their Hindu culture. Their faith is everywhere from the decorative pieces to the little daily offerings put outside the door to the active participation in prayer and temple ceremonies.

As a tropical country, it gets very hot. We were there during the dry season, so it was dusty too. However, there was greenery everywhere. Although the stonework was in every direction, it never stood alone and austere. It was always surrounded by plants in some form or another adding charm and mystery to the scene.

"Gates and Gardens"

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Bali 1

My oldest daughter and I have just been on a three day trip to Bali. It was my first time there and I was quite excited. Bali is a Hindu culture in an Islamic country. So I wanted to see the differences in aesthetics and gardening, and it didn't let me down.

With only a few days there, we didn't have a lot of time, but we went on a tour of their batik, carving and silver crafts. They were really beautiful - and amazing. I learned that in their weaving the woven pattern is pre-dyed onto the thread before it's woven and as I'm not a weaver and don't know how it's done, it just blew me away. How do you 'see' the picture in a long line - without computers? Now that's magic.

As we were taken around and walked about the place, we saw a lot of little gardens. A lot of them were hidden behind gates and walls and you'd only see glimpses of them as you went past. I've always loved that idea of a 'secret' garden that you could see just a little into. The gates themselves were also beautiful and made gorgeous frames for the small paradises within. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

They use sandstone, limestone and volcanic rock for their sculptures. I'll put up more photos next week.

A world of plants

Entering Baladia's and Musa's balcony and you feel you are in a haven in a high rise. Surrounded by plants, the highway is but a distant hum easily forgotten and ignored.

The balcony, however, definitely can't be ignored as a combination of comfort and green provides a place to be still. "Being connected to nature is a type of meditation for me,' says Baladia.

Both owners have been gardening since they were children either as a home garden or in farming. When they were decorating their apartment, being able to step out from the bricks and mortar and connect to their natural surroundings was an integral part of their home design. It is a short step from the living areas into a green space. So much so that they took one wall out of the downstairs bathroom and put in a wall of green instead!

Plants frame the spectacular view on the lower balcony, and create a living wall for privacy on the upper. The lower balcony is more enclosed and sheltered than the upper which is open directly to the elements. This has created two different habitats and allows them to have a variety of plants.

Shade loving plants inhabit the lower balcony and help keep the area cool. Pond reeds, tiny ferns and moss thrive to add character to the pots and surrounding space. In two corners stand Joshua trees that have grown in fascinating lines as they reach from under the ceiling to the light.

Upstairs are more sun hungry plants including a mango and frangapani. The purple heart loves to sit in the full sun and has repaid them with dainty pink flowers. Baladia told me, "Having a balcony garden is like having a child. You cannot forget them; they need care, but they are very grateful and the more you look after them the more beautiful they become." 

As their garden is very personal to them it comes as no surprise that they both follow in the long gardening tradition of sharing plants with other keen gardeners (including me). Plants from friends around the world have found homes there including an ornamental banana and a young creeper that will proliferate in showers of red flowers (see below, left) when it matures.  The plant on the right is a succulent setting out roots - almost ready to be transplanted.

I have included a video for you that showcases more photos of their lovely balconies that their whole family enjoys - including Sasha the tortoise who has the run of the balcony downstairs!

Let me know what you think.

Worms - A sign of health!

In our clean modern homes in the concrete jungle, worms are the last wee beasties we expect on our balconies way up on high, but even here they are wonderful creatures that help the soil in our pots remain balanced and aerated, while adding to the nutritional value. I even found one today in my large snail shell pot! I had to take the plant out of its shell for some plant housekeeping and there it was lying against the wall very comfortable. As the shell had a small break that I wanted to fix, I had to take it out and put it on the soil. It soon disappeared into the cool dark and that was when I remembered that I hadn't taken a photo of it in the shell first. I wouldn't make a good paparazzi!

Anyway, it reminded me of the two little composts that the girls and I started four months ago. We'd made them in two plastic waste paper bins from Ikea and had put some compost from my friend's one in to help start it. The loam from hers was so rich and full of worms and good bugs. I made layers in one bin with soil and garden waste and some the loam and put a lid on it. 

In the other one, I only filled it half way anticipating putting more leaves etc in it over the months. We did fill it up, but it never had a lid. I think that was an important point for when I opened up the lidded one I found beautiful dark soil. However, the other one hadn't worked as successfully as it had got too dry. I'd only watered them both every couple of weeks. For the lidded one that was perfect as too much water can drown the helpful critters. For the open one, it wasn't enough and it was too dry. I've put some of the dark soil from the lidded one on top to introduce some new worms to the brew and I'll get a new lid tomorrow.

Composting is great fun and very easy to do. Over the last four months I've hardly given the buckets much attention and they did their thing quite happily. I want to transfer some plants and I can use the new soil to do it in. What's even better is that it doesn't smell at all. My living room area opens directly onto the balcony and the bins were just to the side out of sight, but not very far away and there is never a whiff. 

If you want to learn more about how to make compost try this link D.I.Y Wormery and Compost.  I liked Gareth Hogan's resource as it specifically mentions small spaces and we all need to think about that.

He mentions making money from composting. I'm not sure if that's possible here in KL, but I'd like to get my condo into composting. 

Do you compost? I'd love to hear about your experiences.