Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Summer Containers Part 2




Good afternoon everyone!
Hope everyone survived another round of snow.
I really got to take down the " Let it Snow" and

" Welcome Winter" signs on the front porch because
this is getting ridiculous. For years I have kept track of
the weather almost everyday by writing snowfalls, rains,
ice, high and low temperatures, etc on my calenders and
then carrying it all over on the new years calendar, so I

have kept track of the snow for this month and it is 30
inches so far for February here in the hills.
I know it is not as much as some of those living farther
east have gotten this month but I am getting tired of
all of this white stuff. I have come to the
conclusion that I would never survive living in Alaska or
parts north of Ohio. They would probably find me walking
around muttering
to myself on some back road. LOL!
Come to think of it I do that muttering thing
already on a regular basis.
Oh well, I guess we get what we will get so might as
well make the best of it.





Since there is nothing blooming now but another budding
Amaryllis in the works I thought I would do a part two on
the
Summer containers.





Some of you who have read some of my postings
know I love to use baskets as planters so this will
be a repeat for you I am afraid.




All year long as we visit yard sales, flea markets, the
Salvation Army or Goodwill stores I have my eye out for
baskets. I love all shapes and sizes and you can pick up
some really cheap ones if you are watching for them.





Since they get a lot of water and are out in the weather
they sometimes only last a few years in the garden beds
but they are great for sticking around where you need a
punch of color at the certain times of the growing season.





I will recycle an old plastic grocery or store bag to line
the baskets. Punch a few holes for water drainage
and then fill them up.








Some of the baskets are planted for the shady beds
and some are for the sunny ones.
I have more shade at times in many of the beds
but the baskets are easy to move around to make
sure they get some sunlight.







I set them everywhere and even hang them on
trees and decorating fences.






I even have an old wicker clothes basket that I fill with
impatiens and set in the woodland bed to brighten
it up. That basket usually ends up getting the impatiens
that are leftover after filling other containers so it
can get pretty bright and funky some summers.
I also realized I do not have one picture of it.
That is strange, maybe it has always been to funky
looking, it is surely not this lack of a sharp memory
of mine.





A basket of white impatiens hanging on a shady tree
glows in the evening or at night.




An old favorite is to fill up old bushel baskets with
mums for Fall decorating.





You can spray paint them up in white or cool colors to add
even more color to the garden, patio or your porches.





But if baskets are just not your thing you can always
plant an old grill.....



a little word of caution at this point - the bottom will
eventually be lying on the
ground one morning when you
go out to water with
soil and plants all in a pile and the
Styrofoam peanuts that you added to use less soil will
be blowing all over the yard.


... or you could plant an old mailbox that some kind
soul has taken a baseball bat or rock to.



Happy Gardening Everyone!




32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Lona, This posting, rather like Part I, is packed with ideas. You have been, and clearly are, so imaginative in your use of baskets. It is true that one can often pick up old baskets for very little money and the idea of painting them does, indeed, give them a new lease of life.

It is a really good idea to cheer up the winter with happy thoughts of summer displays.

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

What lovely flower filled containers, a hint of what is to come for you and others. I hope the snow leaves you all soon. It is cold here today, the wind makes it so much worse and I haven't liked being out there at all. Hopefully tomorrow will be calmer and warmer.

FlowerLady

janie said...

I also plant baskets, and I am always on the lookout for them. I love the ones I find at yard sales for a quarter or 50 cents.

Because of the 'bottom falling out thing', I quit using those peanuts in them. Instead, I use egg cartons (closed up), or black pots from the nursery. Turn them upside down and add soil around them. You can cut them with scissors if they are too tall. Also, aluminum cans are very good to use. They are very light, don't rust, and three or four will fill a good space.

Beautiful baskets! I am longing for Spring!

Ellie Mae's Cottage said...

Lona, I'm so inspired by all of your basket containers. I never think to put them outside but I just might try this summer. I really love the flowers spilling out the of mailbox! Can't wait for summer either! I'm with you... at this point I'm muttering to myself about all the snow we've been having too. Not only do I dislike the snow I'm not fond of the shorter days and lack of sunlight. I always tell hubby that if I were live someplace like Alaska or parts of Norway (which only gets 3 hours of sun in the winter) they'd have to carry me out in a straight-jacket! LOL

Rebecca @ In The Garden said...

More beautiful containers Lona, you're so ambitious to have them all! I water my front containers but forget if I have others. Somehow plants that aren't in the ground seem to require more care. Your baskets are charming.

Patsy said...

That was a nice walk in the garden today ,thanks
Patsy

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

I feel guilty saying that we still haven't had any snow. It's been a strange one that's for sure. Hopefully the snow there will be gone soon.
I love your baskets and this year I hope I will actually remember to try them. I really like the ones you have hanging from the fence and the tree.

RURAL said...

What a great collection you have. I absolutely love the ones on the picket fence, and the one on the tree.

Gorgeous.

Jen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Lona, what a great idea. I have a ton of baskets in the basement not knowing what to do with them.

Did you oever find out what happened to Blotanical?

Eileen

Stephanie said...

Hi Lona, it is always so nice to see the various ways you used your nice baskets as containers. I like the white basket the best. You are right about white flowers. They really glow in the night or under shade. They are perfect for places that are not so bright :-D

Anonymous said...

Absolutely gorgeous.

Darla said...

I love, love looking at your containers...I have an old grill and a mailbox in the garden...will be bringing some baskets out there now!! Thanks.

Anonymous said...

I feel like I've just taken a garden walk through your yard. Ahh, now I am refreshed. But I think I'll get a rude awakening if I look out the window. Argh, there it is, two feet of snow burying my garden. Help! LOL

Noelle Johnson said...

I love the idea of using baskets as plant containers. I have not seen that done before. My favorite is the basket hanging on the side of the tree. Just lovely :60

Becca's Dirt said...

I love how you use your baskets everywhere. And like you said you can move them around. I like that. Yours are beautiful.

Happy Gardening... Becca

Joe Todd said...

Spring had better get here cause I've started to read Nursery Rhymes

Whether the weather be fine,Or whether the weather be not,Whether the weather be cold,Or whether the weather be hot,We'll weather the weather Whatever the weather,Whether we like it or not!

Red Bridges Home said...

Excellent post. Tulsa has had the worst winter in ages and I'm chomping at the bit to get back int my gardens. I had a garden blog, but I killed just about everything last year because of the heat, and it was turning into a horticultural obituary and I stopped writing. I have a ton of baskets I did not know what to do with, what a wonderful idea. Thank you!

Roses and Lilacs said...

What cute ideas for adding interest outside. I love the picket fence.
Marnie

Lona said...

Edith: I will be so glad when I can get out and start filling them all again this spring.

FlowerLady: Looks like we may get in the 30's the next few days. That will help melt some of this stuff but I am afraid more is coming for the weekend.

Janie: Hey girl thanks for the tips on fillers for the bottom of big containers. I am glad someone else uses baskets too.

Ellie: LOL! We are so much alike girl!

Rebecca: It is just routine for me to go out everyday and check the beds so watering the containers is no problem unless I have to go away for a few days.

Patsy: Thanks hon. I enjoyed revisiting them too. ;-)

Catherine: I think the ones hanging up on trees are my favorites too.

Jen: I have been catching some of the Olympic games and it has been fun.

Eileen: I think that Stuart is moving to another provider so it may take awhile to get everything back up. Maybe he is making some changes as he goes.

Stephanie: The white basket is a favorite. I think it was an old funeral flower basket but I liked the shape.

Flowergirl: Thanks for dropping by.

Darla: You have so many great places you could add baskets in your garden beds.

Robin: Spring will be so welcome this year. Maybe it will stay warm when we do get there.

Noelle; Those are my favorites too. Of course there are so many trees around here they need some pretty impatiens hanging on them to spruce them up. ;-)

Becca: Hope your feeling better. No more falls now you hear. ;-)

Joe: Hey guy saying rhymes is better than just muttering to your self LOL!
Weather will happen in Ohio.

RBH: Maybe you will have a wetter summer this year. I would hate to watch all the flowers fry in the heat sorry for your loss ;-)

Darla said...

I finally mailed your package this morning.......sorry it has taken so long......I do like these container posts for sure though...

Jan said...

Hi Lona, I loved your cheery and inspirational ideas! Not to mention the photos;-) I'm in the mood to go basket-hunting now...and see what I might be able to come up with the ones I already have. There are more possibilities than there are baskets in the world, I think...! I'm glad you were able to get us 'out' of our snowy realities for a few moments! Spring cannot come soon enough for me either;-)

Ticking and Toile said...

Hi there! So glad you stopped by my site today...I love finding other gardeners out there in bloggyland! Love your pictures! Love the impatients in the basket...really gorgeous.

Shellagh

Andrea said...

Hi, this is my first visit here. The containers are fascinating and beautifully done. We have lots of those baskets here at very low prices, however they easily decays with the water seepage and our high temperature. So if we use them here, a lot of work is needed for changing and maintenance. I am envious in those climes as maybe they stay longer. thanks.

Anonymous said...

Hi Lona girl. Hang in there. This white stuff can't hold on forever. Don't you just love platitudes like these? I have no room to talk with my 60 degree sunshine except to say that last year at this time, my neck of the woods was continually hammered by winter's wrath.

Oohing and ahhing over last summer's baskets seems like great therapy. I've used wicker before but not to the extent that you have. They do look uber cool and SO much nicer than those ubiquitous plastic monstrosities. Okay. I'm convinced. I'll be on the wicker-hunt now.

Anonymous said...

Very lovely containers, enjoyed it

lynn'sgarden said...

Soo pretty, Lona! :) Love the heart shaped wicker frame and the mailbox planter! Impatiens are one of my favorite groundcovers and I plant them for that carpet effect...so pretty enmasse. We are almost there...for that first spring bloom!

Lona said...

Darla: Hon I wasn't even thinking about it so it is quite alright. Thank you for the contest and I was really tickled to be a winner. Have a great weekend.

Jan: I am really stretching it here with no blooms around ;-) We may get some of this stuff melted off today before we get more next week. Ugh! LOL!

Shellagh: Hi I am so glad you dropped by. Love your postings! Have a great weekend.

Andrea: Hello! Glad you dropped by. There is an iron rod running down through the pots and about two feet into the ground to anchor them. Once the rod is through them you can tip the pots in all directions.
Have a wonderful weekend.

Grace: Isn't it telling when 40 degrees seems warm now. In the fall it freezes me. We get use to it when the cold stays around. Enjoy the warmer weather girl! I sure would. Have a nice weekend friend.

Zindagi: Hello and I am so glad you paid a little visit.

Lynn: Impatiens are a staple in my garden beds. More shade than sun around this small yard. Hey, have a wonderful weekend.

Balisha said...

Wow! those baskets are incredible. You'll find me at garage sales now...looking for baskets.Nice job on this post.
Balisha

Bren Haas said...

I love the Wicker you use in your displays.
Happy Feb. my garden friend. Have you stop by my new blog yet?

Corner Gardener Sue said...

I'm like you in picking up baskets at garage sales and thrift stores. I have a few I've planted in, complete with grocery sack liners, like you. Most of them end up in my house, with books or magazines to put here and there, since I have this thing/compulsion to fill spaces.

I have so many wash tubs, which don't need to be watered quite as often, that I'm trying to cut back on the other pots I plant. Most summers, we end up spending over an hour watering the pots. What do you do about watering yours?

Oh, man, the guy on the weather channel said we are expecting another 3 or so inches of snow this evening. (The other number besides 3 left my brain, so I don't know if it's more or less.) I'm so ready for spring weather!

Anonymous said...

I came to look at your winter pictures and got side tracked by your lovely container plantings. I love all those baskets. I'd love to do container garden in a basket.

CiNdEe's GaRdEn said...

I love all your planters(-: I can't wait to be able to Plant flowers!!!