Friday, February 01, 2008

Container Mania Continued!

I'm continuing my ramble about containers, but have now moved from the front porch to the back patio, which held a collection of several more!

This 'Amethyst' Ivy Geranium and 'Safari plum' Nemesia fruticans made a very appealing combination.

I added a 'Blackie' Sweet Potato vine (Ipomoea) and 'Silver Falls' Dichondra. This is a combination that I'll be sure to use again.

Here's another Diascia - 'Little Charmer'. It bloomed all the way from spring through fall, and looked so pretty with the 'Marguerite' Sweet Potato vine. Also in this container was 'Icicles' Helichrysum thianschanicum which you can see in the upper right hand corner, and an ivy geranium which doesn't show in this photo. 'Pink Morn' Petunias were tucked in there too.

The delicate faces of the Diascia (AKA Twinspur) a little closer. Posted by Picasa


Here's a better view of 'Icicles'. I love the silvery foliage! This is one of the plants I'm trying to over-winter and so far it's doing very well. The purple plant in the background is Persian Shield, another plant I've been happy with in containers.

I found this 'Soprano Lilac Spoon' Osteospermum at my favorite nursery last spring and fell in love with its rather alien shape. I combined it with purple Verbena, English Ivy, 'Easter Bonnet Deep Pink' Alyssum....

.....'Blue' Bacopa with it's tiny, delicate flowers, and another Osteospermum - 'Astra Rose'.

This Osteo is 'Soprano Purple'.

It combined nicely with 'Silver Shield' and Heliotrope. I was disappointed with the blooms of the Heliotrope, but have since learned (again from Marie) that it shouldn't be allowed to dry out because this causes the flower clusters to go brown, like mine did. The other 2 plants are heavy drinkers (a bad habit even for a plant!) and it was hard to keep up with their water needs during the hot weather. The Silver Shield grows quite large and needs to be pinched back. Posted by Picasa

Here's a noon-day sun shot taken in late September. The chartreuse trailing plant on the right is Lysimachia (Creeping Jenny), which I planted in a garden to over-winter.

This lovely white Bacopa combined nicely with a soft lilac pink Nemesia. There were also purple, pink and white Petunias and an Ivy geranium in this container, not visible in this photo. The little calico kitten was adorable but sadly, she disappeared, along with a little orange kitten, some time before Christmas. I suspect one of the mother cats took them hunting and lost them. It's frustrating when that happens but it's something barn cats occasionally do, and there's nothing we can do to stop them.

Here's the Purple Shield, combined with the daisy flowered pink Argyranthemum (Marguerite), a dainty pink Bacopa, and 'Pink Morn' Petunias. This is another bright sun picture. Posted by Picasa

The same plant photographed around 5:00 PM, and 2 months later (late August). The leaves of the Purple Shield look much greener.

As you can see, I spent a lot of time planting containers last spring! Two weeks into June I had this many finished......

.....and 2 weeks later (fitting the planting in when time allowed) I was finally done! Then I moved them around to their permanent summer homes.

We just have February, March and April to get through before it'll be time to go plant shopping again. It's only 3 months, but it will seem like forever! Posted by Picasa


Wandering through glorious greenhouses filled with beautiful blooms and wonderful scents is my idea of Heaven.....

.......I can't wait! Posted by Picasa

28 comments:

kate said...[Reply]

You have many lovely flower combinations here. I realise how pretty sweet potato vines. The Purple Shield with the pink Argyranthemum is really attractive. The Osteospermums are beautiful. I love the colour of the 'Soprano Purple' and the shape of the 'Soprano Lilac Spoon'. The Icicles are an eye-catching colour. I like the dark centres of the Diascia. Between Bacopa and Diascia, you had some long-flowering bloomers.

Alice said...[Reply]

So when are you going to publish your book on container planting? You know you should, don't you?

Actually, I think I like your containers even better than your garden beds - and that's saying something!!!

I've always loved plants/gardens in containers and your's are defintely the best I've seen by a non-professional gardener. They really are superb.

Sure you didn't copy the photos from a book?.....LOL.

Sandy Hatcher-Wallace said...[Reply]

Your container plants are so pretty. I really liked the Soprano Lilac Spoon Osteospermum...it's very different and very pretty. All of your container plants are beautiful and I'm sure that you can't wait for winter to end so that you can start planting again.


I'm hoping that the lost kittens were found by wandering children who took them in and are feeding them well.

kylieps said...[Reply]

those are gorgeous mummy! I had no idea you had so much container knowledge.

Lisa at Greenbow said...[Reply]

Kerrie, your containers are inspirational. One more reason I can't wait for spring! Making those combos will be such fun.

SOLARA said...[Reply]

Wow beautiful garden you have there! The flowers looks wonderful!

Annie in Austin said...[Reply]

The previous post was wonderful but this one knocked me over - those purples, the 'Icicles' Helichrysum, and those combinations! Some of those plants wouldn't make it during an Austin summer, but we also use creeping jenny and the Silver Falls dichondra - the native form is called Silver Pony's Foot down here.

Kerri, Alice is right - your containers aren't just 'nice' but are proof of a genuine artistic gift.

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

kenju said...[Reply]

Just gorgeous, Kerri! Such beautiful combinations.

Cherdecor said...[Reply]

I have never seen so many plant containers! They are all so unique and beautifully fashioned! You certainly have a gift in your design.

I thought I could pick a favorite, but I don't know. They are all so pretty.

Cherdecor said...[Reply]

Kerri, I just noticed that you grew up in Australia. Check out this blog. Bonnie lives in Australia.
http://robogiles.blogspot.com/

Christy Woolum said...[Reply]

You continue to inspire me and give me hope that we will see flowers again this year!!

mightymatt1313 said...[Reply]

These colors are great. I get my colors from pansies, violas, and Johnny-jump-ups.

Susie said...[Reply]

Hi Kerri,
Another beautiful and colorful post to remind us what lies ahead of us!
Winter here seems particuarly cold, wet and dreary this year (or perhaps it's just me?)
Anyway, your posts always brighten my day each time I visit.
love and ((hugs))

Pam said...[Reply]

Absolutely lovely, but how did you ever find the time to water them all?

Naturegirl said...[Reply]

Kerri I was here earlier but for some reason my comment did not post!
I love the containers you show us and we certainly seem to love the same plants and colors! The pinks and purples and whites are my fav. I took a few notes to add to my containers next season! Thank you for sharing and for coming by my 300th post!hugs NG xo

Chica, Cienna, and Cali said...[Reply]

the soprano purple look like they have been painted.......love all your combinations......you are not related to Claude Monet, are you??? :DDD
you have such a great sense of right color combinations :)

Mountain Mama said...[Reply]

Oh what lovely ideas you have given me. You sure have a talent for putting plants together.
Our temps here have gone up to 40 degrees so I was outside today digging and transplanting some heather's and a varigated grass that had outgrown the small garden. I also was given a white rose that had been my mothers so planted it on the back fence. It's a climber so should be happy there.
Thanks for sharing all your lovely posy's. It has been a very inspirational visit.

Jeanette said...[Reply]

Hi Kerri, Wow the combination of plants and colour you have used in your containers anr beautifull..

verobirdie said...[Reply]

My idea of heaven too! You have such a nice collection of colors and shapes!

Charley "Apple" Grabowski said...[Reply]

Lots of great ideas for me to think about. The next 3 months are going to drag by!

Giddy said...[Reply]

I am just speechless! Your containers are breathtaking!

Needled Mom said...[Reply]

Beautiful....simply beautiful. It has given me some great ideas for my planters. Thank you. I wish you had flowers year round as you do such a great job with them.

Terri said...[Reply]

I am hoping to do some container gardening this year as my garden space is so limited here in the burbs.

My beautiful geraniums that I saved from last year are hurting right now though, because Alice (my dog) waited until Hobbs (Gillian's cat) had his back turned and ran up to him barking like a crazed doberman, causing Hobbs to jump 2 feet into the air and land on my beautiful geraniums, squashing them flat and breaking of several stems...sigh.

Yolanda Elizabet Heuzen said...[Reply]

Wow Kerri how many containers do you have? And such a colourful display they make. Love your colour combo's!
Wish it was time to plant up those containers again, but it won't be long now!

Midlife Mom said...[Reply]

Beautiful! I'm inspired! I need to find some HUGE planters for my back courtyard, it needs some color out there. I hope Sam's Club has some big ones this spring. Come on over and see some of the flowers that we saw while in Florida last week. They are just gorgeous and I still have more to post! :O)

Linda said...[Reply]

It is all breathtakingly beautiful Kerri. I would love to have you come stay with me and help me make a flower garden!! I guess I should just bite the bullet and try to learn more about gardening. My method of just putting them in the ground and hoping a little water and food will do the trick doesn't seem to work that well!
Have a blessed day!

Shelley said...[Reply]

So lovely Kerri! It makes me wish for spring so much! Of course my gardens don't even come close to comparing. Wow. Your photos are just great.

Lissa said...[Reply]

Hello Kerri,

I have been loving your photographs -- the plants are so lush and full of life!

I'm also dropping a note to let you know that I've tagged you for the Seven Stories meme -- details here. Looking forward to your post!

Lissa