I don’t really know anything about plants, but in recent years I have managed to keep my growing collection of house plants alive which I consider an achievement. My outdoor space is only a small balcony, but I’ve got numerous pots and every year I’m determined that this is going to be the year that I get it all looking good.

In 2020, when garden centres like everything else went into lockdown, I bought some plants online that would’ve otherwise gone to waste and those plants brought me joy for that year and beyond.

I’ve bought the occasional outdoor plant since and planted a few bulbs, including some alliums, but sadly everything has come to the end of their life and my pots suddenly looked really sad. The only exception is my little collection of succulents that have survived everything, though the magpies have robbed me of at least one.

I’ve been saying for months that I’m going to get the pots ready for some new plants, but week after week the time went by and I didn’t venture out onto my balcony, other than to enjoy the view, the sunset or find out what annoying neighbour is making noise.

This weekend was the Nunhead Cemetery open day, an annual event that is now cemented in my diary as I’ve been with a friend the past three years. As well as music, Morris dancers, crypt tours and other family friendly entertainment, there are plant sales from local growers and allotments.

Whilst my friend refrained this year, I bought a new indoor plant as well as a new succulent. It was then on to the Nunhead Gardener where two more plants fell into my bag. At the inaugural Camberwell Green Food Festival, a sunflower added to my collection and home I headed.

Normally plants would just sit on the balcony for ages before I got round to doing anything with them, but it was such a lovely evening I spent time pottering on the balcony, removing old weeds and dead plants, and repotting the new ones.

I still have some work to do to remove all the old weeds and plants but my new friends are looking happy in their new home and I now have three pots ready for new residents. I even found a home for the concrete head I bought at a market earlier this year.

Hopefully I’ll make time this week to find some colourful flowers to brighten up the balcony just in time for making the most of the sunny evenings and cocktail hour.