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!

Summer Containers Pt. 1

Needing an escape from the cold and all this
white stuff outdoors it is time to revisit last summer's
containers and make plans for this spring.




I am always looking for different containers to
plant flowers in or display them
on my visits to flea markets, yard sales, etc.
I will also enjoy looking for new ideas and
containers at the Central Ohio Home and Garden
Show which starts at the end of this month.




I have two tipsy pot displays in my garden beds.
They are both in shady areas so they are usually
filled with impatiens to brighten up the shady beds
where color is sometimes hard to find.



This one was so full by the end of summer that the
pots were all but hidden until the deers ate them in
late Fall.




An old foot tub filled with ugly orange pelargonium's.
They will not be back this summer since orange is not
a favorite color of mine.




A Salvation Army store find was this wooden tool
carrier. It is really a Boyd's Bear holder and says

such on the back side but turned around who can tell.

A new bright paint covering might be in order for the
tote box this spring.

Teapots make lovely flower pots.




An old coal bucket I have had around for years.
I think the bottom may not last this summer.





Don't throw away those old pitcher and bowl
sets. This $2.00 one makes a pretty flower pot.
Plant the pitcher and the bowl.




An old bird cage maybe.




Broken pots even have a place in the beds.




An old kettle.




Window Boxes.




An old washtub.





I built a small window box to put on the back of
the potting bench I built a few years ago.

An old ladder whether short or tall makes a
wonderful pot holder for the shade or sun.



These are just a few of my flower containers from
last summer and I hope it will give you some ideas
for flower containers. Anything that holds dirt is
a future flower pot.




Since the blooms are far and in between now
why not make a posting of your flower containers
of the past.



Happy Gardening Everyone!

Some Blooms Happening For Fertilizer Friday

Hello Gardeners! I do not know where this week has
gone but it has sped by so fast that Fertilizer Friday is
here. If you want to see some great blooms from some
great gardeners go to visit Tootsie @ 'It's Tootsie Time'
and join in on flaunting your flowers. I have to admit
that I fertilized my flowers yesterday because it was dry
and they needed a good drink of water.

This is another surprise lily blooming from the assorted
bulbs I bought last Fall. She is very yellow!



The new Monarda or Bee Balms that were planted
last Fall are starting to bloom. They are not too bushy
right now but in another year they will be wonderful.
The butterflies,hummingbirds and bees are loving them.



The blooms one the white ones are not as big and fluffy.
Since I have never grown it before I am not sure whether
this is normal or not.



This petite pink ones are growing so wonderful despite
my moving them in mid growth to another more sunny
spot. Their sturdy and great for the front of the butterfly bed.



The 'Double Delight' rose is turning a cherry red as
the blooms age and I have had to knock the pesky beetles
off of it every day.



Finally the 'Black Leaf Rose ' Geraniums are starting
to bloom and I am loving the rosy colored blooms against
the dark leaves. I should not complain about them taking
so long to bloom since they were grown from seed. I guess
I want that instant gratification of blooms that are already
blooming instead of waiting.



The 'Adonis' pink phlox is starting to bloom now
and the fragrance from this phlox is so amazing.



The Stachy's Lambs Ears are not blooming yet but
maybe it will yet or maybe she needs another year of growth.
It is new also and I am not familiar with its habits yet.
I love the velvety, silver leaves though even without
any blooms.



'Moonbeam' Coreopsis is in full bloom with its airy
stems and dainty yellow flowers.



Has anyone ever grown this 'False Leaf Hibiscus' before?
I started some seeds and this is the only one that survived
my attempts. I am loving the dark burgundy foliage.
It has not bloomed yet and I am wondering how big
they get before they start blooming. Mine is in a
pot so it may not get as big as it normally would?



The Gerbera Daisies are still blooming away.



The Lantana is getting so big and full of blooms.
She likes fertilizer Fridays and the small dab of
compost I added to her roots.



The poor basket the baby raccoons kept dumping
to the ground below is trying to come back. Poor
looking thing.



The planter in front of the garage is staring to fill out.
Looking at the pictures I do believe my top planter is
leaning a lot. I will have to fix that. Isn't it
weird that something completely misses your eye until
you take a picture of it. ;-)


This window box with the pansies still amazes
me. It is still growing away while I have had to
cut them from the other three boxes.



The 'Rose Lobelia' is looking pretty.



The pots of white wave petunias and tobacco flower
is also liking the fertilizer and compost.

Have A Wonderful Fertilizer Friday
and Flaunt those Flowers!