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| Photo by Paul Joseph |
When the danger of a frost has ended, I go to the nursery, load up my cart with pretty flowers and head home to plant. Everything looks really great ... for awhile. Then some issues start to arise.
My jackmanii clematis seems to be withering on my arbor, and upon further inspection, I realize my husband has gotten a bit overzealous with the weed wacker and severed it from its roots.
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| Southernliving.com |
The surviving flowers are choked by the summer heat. I can't keep up with the watering, deadheading and fertilizing, and eventually, I lose the battle. I look out at my pathetic flowers, and I can't wait for Fall so I can replace them with mums.
Yet, despite my sordid past with flowers, here I am today dreaming of what I'll do with the garden this year. The first thing I want to do is replace my front entry planters. I currently have these hayrack planters...
The front of our house gets full afternoon sun, and while I love these planters, they dry out very quickly. I'd like to replace them with a larger square planter. Perhaps like this...
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| Devonshire of Palm Beach |
But not that exact one, because it's at little out of my budget at $2,200. This one is also really cool, also out of the budget, and heavy...
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| garden-fountains.com |
I'm sure I can find something in my price range that will work. When I do, I'd love to plant a boxwood topiary with flowers underneath. Something similar to this...
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| flowermag.com |
Here are some photos that are inspiring me...
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| emilyaclark.blogspot.com |
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| design sponge |
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I admit it. I'm a serial plant killer. But, I'm trying to change my ways. What about you... Do you have a green thumb? What are you planting this year?
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My thumb is pretty brown. If not for sprinkler systems and drip irrigation for the veggies--I would have nothing but dirt outside. Well, and prairie dogs.
ReplyDeleteYou sound a lot like me, I go to the nursery, load up--full of hope and a vision of floral beauty. It never seems to change though.
I would like to move the tree that is our front yard this year (it's been struggling for years) and replace the surrounding 'island' with plain grass. There's always things I would like to change--it's just getting the CFO to sign off.
Good luck with your planters. :)
I do okay but my problem is a very shady lot. It's so so hard to grow a pretty variety when everything you love needs full sun. I'm still experimenting and having 2 failures for every success.
ReplyDeleteI completely understand your stuggles with your gardening. We all do. Container gardening is a great way to go! You can move them around as the weather gets hotter into shadier places!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I have had really great results when I have amended the soil in my beds and/or replaced the soil in my containers with that Miracle Grow Moisture Control potting soil. It really helps keep my plants happy even when I forget to hit them with the hose. It is a little pricier, but when you think about the investment you are making into your plants, it's worth it. Just a suggestion. Try it! Have fun!
Lesley
thehomelessfinch.blogspot.com
I love your ideas for planters. I bought cement planters in different sizes in the back from our house at a salvage place and new urns for the front from Compagne...all pretty expensive, unfortunately to get the look of aged concrete like in your last photo. I put small kumquat trees in ours with pebbles at the base (for that provencal look). Can't wait to see what you come up with...although what you have is pretty.
ReplyDeleteIdeas- It's garage sale season and you never know what you will find. :)
ReplyDeleteAs far as a green thumb, my dad has one and some of the green has rubbed off onto me, not that I haven't killed my fair share of plants, but after last year with successful planter-grown green onions and peppers, in hot Spain, I feel way more confident.
Now, my mom-in-love has asked for flower-power help. Her brown thumb is begging for draught-resistant full-sun plants, it's gonna be fun. ::cough::
Best of luck to you! don't forget about the lemonade or tea on the porch after the work is done!