I was skeptical at first, but these faux flowers have completely transformed my balcony! The purple ones I ordered are even richer in color than the photos showed—like a burst of hydrangeas in full bloom. After unboxing (which felt like unwrapping a floral surprise), I fluffed them up and instantly noticed how pliable the stems were—no awkward wire poking out.

What surprised me most? Zero chemical smell! Unlike other artificial flowers I’ve tried, these didn’t assault my nostrils. I tucked them into my weathered window boxes alongside real ivy, and neighbors keep complimenting my ‘green thumb.’ Joke’s on them—these haven’t wilted through three thunderstorms and a heatwave.

The bundles are smaller than expected (each about the size of my palm when clustered), but that worked perfectly for my DIY project. I bent the stems to cascade over my rusty porch railing, and now it looks like a cottage garden exploded there. Pro tip: Mix them with greenery—alone they can look sparse, but paired with faux eucalyptus? Chef’s kiss.

After two months outdoors, they still look freshly ‘planted.’ Even the plastic buds (which I initially thought were odd) add dimension. My only gripe? The leaves could be more realistic—up close, they give away the faux secret. But from the sidewalk? Total magic.