Easter Projects: Flower Potting

My sister came for Easter weekend and asked for projects to do. Then she decided what she really wanted was to relax and enjoy the family atmosphere.

In between the attitude shift there, I lined up a lot of projects. The first (and easiest) that was finished was the flower baskets for the front yard. I decided not to do hanging baskets this year, and just fill the barrels next to the garage and the pot next to the front door.

That way, maybe I can spend more time on the yard (which still needs so much work) and less time watering baskets. Or maybe, to be honest, I just know that I will forget to water those baskets...and Doug will eventually get tired of doing it for me...so I won't just throw good time and plants away by trying this year. Either way, one less thing, right?

Anyway, I did something a little different with those baskets/pots/barrels this year. For the barrels, I still used the typical formula:

• Something spiky: Macedonia (more of a grass) and Salvia (purple spikes - I can replant these at the end of the season)
• Something flowing: Vinca Minor (Periwinkle) that I dug out of my front garden bed, that I can also replant elsewhere at the end of the season
• Something as filler: Stock and Petunias

And it looks a little sparse at the moment, since the petunias haven't filled in yet.

Then I took a different tack on the pot next to the door. 

I still went with something spiky - this time a Strawberry & Cream Ribbon Grass (Phalaris arundinacea 'Feesey'). Then I used two different types of Coral Bells to add color and texture. This is definitely more of a foliage basket instead of a flower basket, since the flowers that eventually will come will be small and insignificant.

This basket doesn't get a whole lot of light, though. One of the problems I've seen in the past few years - as I have kept the composition of all my baskets pretty much the same - is that this pot dies from lack of sun. So, time to mix it up and see what happens.

If I remember, I'll post pictures of these baskets after they've had a bit of time to grow. There are people who just stuff their baskets so they look good from the moment they are planted - eventually that will be me. However, at this time, I want to spend my money on that large piece of land that needs filling instead of a basket that will look good in a few weeks even sparsely planted.

And now you have it, planted flowers. Hooray for sisters prodding me to action (even if they take a nap while I'm doing it)!