This is not a novel idea for many of you, but it’s a fairly new concept for me. It happened almost by accident last year when I bought a lot of perennials, and because I wasn’t ready to plant them in the landscape, I added them to my containers. In the fall, I transplanted them into the new perennial beds, and happily, this spring, they are poking out their heads…I’m assuming they survived the winter.
Because perennials tend to be bigger than annuals, they fill out containers nicely from the beginning of the season. And perennials are less vulnerable than tender annuals that may be nipped by frost, which is still possible here in May. Also, annuals often burn themselves out by the middle of September.
I wish my containers looked like these ones and the one above I found on Pinterest. Having an evergreen as an anchor plant really amplifies the wow factor.
I’ve started working on the containers in the back garden (full sun). The colour scheme will be lavender, white, and green, and the plants will be both perennials (mostly) and annuals. I’ve layered from the tallest in the back to trailers in the front using white clematis, lavender Storm Cloud Perennial Vivace, David white phlox, white campanula, and periwinkle vinca, (all perennials) with white geraniums, blue bacopa, white alyssum, and spider plants (started from cuttings) annuals. Come October all the perennials will be moved out into the perennials beds.
Like many of you, I have many hours of gardening ahead of me in the next month. I’m finding that just tidying up the garden after winter and dealing with the damage my garden succumbed to because of the harsh winter conditions is a full-time job! I’m signing off for the summer and will look forward to continuing our weekly conversations in September.
Enjoy the summer. Hopefully it’s not all work…that there is plenty of time for play. xox Judy❤️
PS This gives you an idea of what the boxwood nightmare looks like. My son helped me on Mother’s Day by digging out the dead boxwood in one quadrant in the back garden and replacing the MANY Green Velvet boxwood. It’s backbreaking work, and there are so many more to go…
Oh my Judy, so heartbreaking to see your boxwood hedge. Gardening is often an unkind mistress that keeps us on our toes. Hope when it is all done you can sit back and enjoy the green display.
Happy summer gardening 💐 💕
Hi Monique, Yes the boxwood disaster is a nightmare. It’s hard to understand what has happened. In areas part of the hedge is lush and green and only a foot away it is completely dead. I look forward to the day when all the dead parts are removed and it is replanted. It will drive my crazy that there is a disparity in size but I’ll happily take the green over the brown! xox Judy❤️
It really is a mystery Judy. The only thing we know with certainty, it was nothing you did or didn’t do. Enjoy planting up all your lovely containers, and the blossoms of your labour.
I will miss your blog over the summer Judy.
Hi Karen, Thank you Karen for your moral support! I hope it’s nothing I have done. I hope you are finding time to get your containers planted too. I will also miss your comments and your most appreciated support of the blog. xox Judy❤️
Oh Judy, that’s so sad to see your boxwood in that condition after all the hard work and time you’ve put into it! That was so nice of your son to help you as I’m sure it would have been quite the backbreaking task to remove all that and replace it. I hope you have better luck with the replacement boxwoods. I love your green doors…what a gorgeous colour! Make sure you spend some time relaxing in your garden as a well-deserved reward for all your hard work. I’ll miss your posts over the summer but I’ll look forward to reading them again in September. Have a wonderful summer and be good to yourself Judy….you deserve it🥰! Hugs, Karen xo❤️
Hi Karen, Aren’t we lucky to have sons! Removing the dead boxwood has been challenging. You would be shocked at the size of the trunks and roots! I’m about half way through removing the damaged boxwood but the weather hasn’t been too cooperative, however, I welcome the rain. I will have scraggly looking hedges for many years as boxwood is so slow growing but I will be content with a green hedge. I hope your garden is shaping up nicely…I’ve noticed a bit of green at the base of some on my lavender so I hope yours is perking up too. Have a great summer, xox Judy❤️