Caroline Williamson
@caromw.bsky.social
Poet, political tragic, keyboard warrior. Melbourne Australia. PhD from Monash University: 'The coalfield and the apocalypse: poetry and the politics of time'. My collection Time Machines published by Vagabond Press, Sydney. Balcony garden.
Seven months of growing things in Mr Stacky, and the shine is wearing off. (1) not comfortable with entirely chemical nutrition, waste of a good compost bin (2) coir dries out very quickly, constant watering needed (3) I really like soil and all its complexities even if things don't grow as quickly.
November 26, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Seven months of growing things in Mr Stacky, and the shine is wearing off. (1) not comfortable with entirely chemical nutrition, waste of a good compost bin (2) coir dries out very quickly, constant watering needed (3) I really like soil and all its complexities even if things don't grow as quickly.
The weather changes so quickly in Melbourne. One day of summer on Thursday, 31F, and this little correa was dying of thirst by evening. It is now recovering nicely in the shade. No more sunlight till the end of autumn.
October 18, 2025 at 1:19 AM
The weather changes so quickly in Melbourne. One day of summer on Thursday, 31F, and this little correa was dying of thirst by evening. It is now recovering nicely in the shade. No more sunlight till the end of autumn.
The last image of this invasive, pot-hating plant that I dug up in our old garden out of pure sentimentality. It was a bloody nuisance in the garden, and now it's turning up its toes on the balcony. I am the kind of naive, messy gardener who wants everything to live, but there are limits.
August 6, 2025 at 12:43 AM
The last image of this invasive, pot-hating plant that I dug up in our old garden out of pure sentimentality. It was a bloody nuisance in the garden, and now it's turning up its toes on the balcony. I am the kind of naive, messy gardener who wants everything to live, but there are limits.
I might be a bit slow moving when it comes to useful tools for balcony gardening. But I bought a hose wand on Sunday and already I can't imagine how I managed without it. How to water hanging baskets. How to deliver a gentle downpour over every potted plant. Watering cans may be a thing of the past.
July 29, 2025 at 6:45 AM
I might be a bit slow moving when it comes to useful tools for balcony gardening. But I bought a hose wand on Sunday and already I can't imagine how I managed without it. How to water hanging baskets. How to deliver a gentle downpour over every potted plant. Watering cans may be a thing of the past.
Couple of well-grown native shrubs, grevillea and banksia, from a plant sale down the road yesterday. These are ex-display - they've been to the tennis! The grevillea wasn't happy, so I found it a bigger pot, and now they're both in the far corner of the balcony, facing a cold night.
June 14, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Couple of well-grown native shrubs, grevillea and banksia, from a plant sale down the road yesterday. These are ex-display - they've been to the tennis! The grevillea wasn't happy, so I found it a bigger pot, and now they're both in the far corner of the balcony, facing a cold night.
Parcel of midwinter seeds for the balcony and maybe also the community garden, if they want some. TWO kinds of radish (black Spanish and rido red), alpine strawberry seeds, and a couple of bulbs of Kangaroo Island garlic. Divine. From the Seed Collective in Upper Ferntree Gully.
June 10, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Parcel of midwinter seeds for the balcony and maybe also the community garden, if they want some. TWO kinds of radish (black Spanish and rido red), alpine strawberry seeds, and a couple of bulbs of Kangaroo Island garlic. Divine. From the Seed Collective in Upper Ferntree Gully.
Proper rain last night and more on the way. It hardly came into the balcony at all, but the trees outside are very happy.
June 3, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Proper rain last night and more on the way. It hardly came into the balcony at all, but the trees outside are very happy.
You might want to rrad this.
May 1, 2025 at 8:32 AM
You might want to rrad this.
Maybe read Peter Khalil's statement on political violence, before you start vandalising his office again?
April 30, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Maybe read Peter Khalil's statement on political violence, before you start vandalising his office again?
Not sure about hydroponics. Like to think of myself as an organic gardener. But these lettuce seedlings are eight days out from planting seeds and going gangbusters.
April 30, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Not sure about hydroponics. Like to think of myself as an organic gardener. But these lettuce seedlings are eight days out from planting seeds and going gangbusters.
That little green leaf thing peeping over the side of a small basket just above compost bin, plant stakes, cardboard etc? That is going to be a huge, beautiful staghorn fern. One day. If I get the watering right. Not too little, not too much...
April 27, 2025 at 5:10 AM
That little green leaf thing peeping over the side of a small basket just above compost bin, plant stakes, cardboard etc? That is going to be a huge, beautiful staghorn fern. One day. If I get the watering right. Not too little, not too much...
Hydroponics. Mr Stacky all set up, seeds planted. First seedlings showing up. First hydroponic feed. Technical hitch: how do I measure 3 ml of each of these lurid solutions? Teaspoon and guesswork, have ordered proper measuring spoons.
April 26, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Hydroponics. Mr Stacky all set up, seeds planted. First seedlings showing up. First hydroponic feed. Technical hitch: how do I measure 3 ml of each of these lurid solutions? Teaspoon and guesswork, have ordered proper measuring spoons.
My balcony but not my seedlings. These are for the community garden just outside our building. There's a monthly working bee, and this will be a batch of winter herbs and veggies. Melbourne wnter isn't that different to an English summer.
April 16, 2025 at 7:57 AM
My balcony but not my seedlings. These are for the community garden just outside our building. There's a monthly working bee, and this will be a batch of winter herbs and veggies. Melbourne wnter isn't that different to an English summer.
There are garden designers out there who say the overall design of a balcony garden should come before any other decisions. But here we are with a compost bin, and a puppy potty, and now Mr Stacky waiting for his seeds. He looks impressive, but he's waist height. Looking forward to fresh greens.
April 13, 2025 at 12:46 AM
There are garden designers out there who say the overall design of a balcony garden should come before any other decisions. But here we are with a compost bin, and a puppy potty, and now Mr Stacky waiting for his seeds. He looks impressive, but he's waist height. Looking forward to fresh greens.
I see your cat grass and raise you a double puppy potty, also with real grass.
April 8, 2025 at 9:23 AM
I see your cat grass and raise you a double puppy potty, also with real grass.
Essential equipment for balcony: real grass puppy/pussy potty. Now being well used. Just added dolomite lime to the burnt bits. Apparently dog wee does not kill the roots; expecting regrowth any week now.
April 5, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Essential equipment for balcony: real grass puppy/pussy potty. Now being well used. Just added dolomite lime to the burnt bits. Apparently dog wee does not kill the roots; expecting regrowth any week now.
(2) Finally we got to Bunnings on a day when turf was briefly available. Two rolls, two sacks of potting compost. And within days, our dog was relieving himself before breakfast. Minimal training. Everybody happy. No more reluctant midnight excursions to the park. Now: needs landscaping...
March 25, 2025 at 11:55 PM
(2) Finally we got to Bunnings on a day when turf was briefly available. Two rolls, two sacks of potting compost. And within days, our dog was relieving himself before breakfast. Minimal training. Everybody happy. No more reluctant midnight excursions to the park. Now: needs landscaping...
Took a while to work out that we don't want another dinner table on the balcony, we want somewhere to veg out.
March 25, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Took a while to work out that we don't want another dinner table on the balcony, we want somewhere to veg out.
1. Quite apart from the balcony, I have also taken responsibility for a raised garden bed on the top floor of our apartment block. The previous manager installed a wicking system and implemented a let-everything-just-seed-itself policy. Parsley, spinach, mustard, tomatoes, zucchini...
March 19, 2025 at 1:50 AM
1. Quite apart from the balcony, I have also taken responsibility for a raised garden bed on the top floor of our apartment block. The previous manager installed a wicking system and implemented a let-everything-just-seed-itself policy. Parsley, spinach, mustard, tomatoes, zucchini...
The balcony compost bin. Needs to be raised a few cm on solid base, to make access to the hose easier. Had a bit of a debate about where to put it, happy with this position. Cardboard boxes and newspapers will never be leaving this apartment ever again. #balconygarden
March 4, 2025 at 1:55 AM
The balcony compost bin. Needs to be raised a few cm on solid base, to make access to the hose easier. Had a bit of a debate about where to put it, happy with this position. Cardboard boxes and newspapers will never be leaving this apartment ever again. #balconygarden
First hanging basket. Bought a hare's foot fern (NZ) on the advice of a friendly staffer at Ceres. If it survives, it'll tumble beautifully over the edges of the basket.
February 28, 2025 at 5:03 AM
First hanging basket. Bought a hare's foot fern (NZ) on the advice of a friendly staffer at Ceres. If it survives, it'll tumble beautifully over the edges of the basket.
High winds this morning and high temperatures later. Fed and watered most plants (Charlie Carp fish emulsion). Then some emergency tying up. Just got to the tomatoes in time. #balconygarden
February 12, 2025 at 11:31 PM
High winds this morning and high temperatures later. Fed and watered most plants (Charlie Carp fish emulsion). Then some emergency tying up. Just got to the tomatoes in time. #balconygarden
How I spent the morning. Assembled one step and a scratching post for the cat pole which has been hanging around half-assembled for months. Grateful to a friendly and practical neighbour for help with the pole yesterday. Already having 2nd thoughts about the height of the step. #balconygarden.
February 5, 2025 at 1:48 AM
How I spent the morning. Assembled one step and a scratching post for the cat pole which has been hanging around half-assembled for months. Grateful to a friendly and practical neighbour for help with the pole yesterday. Already having 2nd thoughts about the height of the step. #balconygarden.
Honeybee well hydrated after stopping off at the old mixing bowl full of water, coral, shell and pebble on the balcony. I need a better camera. #balconygarden
February 4, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Honeybee well hydrated after stopping off at the old mixing bowl full of water, coral, shell and pebble on the balcony. I need a better camera. #balconygarden