Containers This Year

These have filled out nicely.

I never did fill up my other 2 pots.

With our kitchen remodel, the back deck was full of cabinets for most of the summer, so I didn't put any back there.

Maybe it was a good thing.

With the hot summer we've had, I have had a hard time keeping these three watered!

They really need it every day.

They get it...every 2nd or 3rd day, depending on when I notice the wilting.

Terrible! 

 

Those red petunias were a fluke!

I certainly didn't think I was buying any red petunias!

I really like the way the sweet potato vine has been spilling over the sides.

 

As predicted, the osteospermum has gone dormant in the heat.

The dahlias still bloom, as long as I'm consistent with the water.

These make a welcome bit of color and texture as you go up the stairs to our front door.

I think as far as design, these are the best I've put together so far.

I love the mix of textures, with the feathery asparagus fern juxtaposed with the bold sweet potato vine. The flower colors complement each other as well.

 

Maybe next year I'll assign a child to water them every day.

 

Containers out Front

We had a new porch built this year, including some built-in platforms for flowers.

Yay!

So I rounded up some of my blue pots and got to work.

 

 

I decided to do these ones in front all the same, which is quite unlike me.

Since they're on the stairs going up, I thought it would make more of an impact to have similar plants in each one.

 

For height and color, and those awesome spoon-shaped petals, I put in Osteospermum 'Flower Power Spider Purple.'  It says it blooms spring and fall, if you cut it back late summer. I hope it won't go completely dormant in between but I guess I'll find out.

To add another punch of color, I put a dahlia in each as well, 'Dahlinova,' variegated petals, pink/purple/white.

Fuschia petunias round off the flowers.

For greenery, each container has an asparagus fern 'Sprengeri', and a purple-leaved sweet potato vine, Ipomea batatas 'Sweet Caroline Red.'

I'm already liking how they look together.

I hope this combination powers on through until fall!

 

I still need to plant my other containers for the back deck.

That will probably happen this week.