Sunday, July 11, 2010

Container Gardening

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Container gardening is so much fun.  Every year I plant lots of pots and have fun coming up with different combinations of plants.
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First up is a concrete planter I plant at my Dad's house every year. 
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Here's how it looked when I planted it mid May:
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And now:
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What a difference two months makes!  We actually joke every year that it's the "pot on steroids" because no matter what I plant it always goes crazy.  I think the container must be in a perfect location and gets just the right amount of sun.
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The container is planted with two canna lilies, various coleus, and two varieties of sweet potato vine.
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Now, back to my house.  I have this container sitting on a ledge on my front porch.  I usually plant a similar combination here every year - coleus in the center, impatiens on either side, and creeping jenny to trail down the front.
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The next containers are all back in my screen porch.  I get a good amount of sun in the porch so most things grow pretty well.
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These planters are similar to the one at my Dad's.
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They are planted with canna lilies, coleus, and sweet potato vine.  Can you tell these are my favorite plants?  They are easy to grow and I love how lush and tropical they look.
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Of course, my Dad's canna has been blooming for weeks now and mine just started!
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I planted this hanging basket with angel wing begonias and more sweet potato vine.
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Last up is a container on the other side of my screen porch planted again with different varieties of coleus and creeping jenny.
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I just love all the different color combinations in coleus.
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My other containers are also doing well.  I have more basil then I know what to do with, and my two tomato plants are out of control.  I haven't picked my first tomato yet, but the plants are loaded with probably hundreds of tomatoes!  Lots of caprese salads are in my future.
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I've linked up to: Show off Your Cottage Monday @ The House in the Roses, Market Yourself Monday @ Sumo's Sweet Stuff,.Make it Yours Day @ My Backyard Eden, Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer,  Creative Share Blog Hop @ Trendy Trrehouse.

28 comments:

  1. Everything is gorgeous Alissa! I love all your pots and the different combinations of plants and flowers. Do you plant the canna lilies from bulbs? I'll have to try those next year but I'm not sure if they will like the strong Kansas wind. :)

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  2. Alissa,
    Your containers are magazine quality! Beautiful! Your canna's are so pretty! I forgot to plant mine this year! I am going to try them next year...hoping the bulbs make it. Any thoughts on if they will?
    Wendy

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  3. Just found your blog and COMPLETELY love it!
    oxoxo
    Denalee

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  4. Oh my goodness--love your pairings and the colors are so vibrant!

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  5. Your containers all look wonderful. Mine are currently being eaten by caterpillars. But I have the solution and hopefully the creepy little plant eating caterpillars will be gone in the morning.
    Traci

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  6. LOVE coleus and your combinations are breathtaking!

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  7. All gorgeous Alissa! You did a great job!

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  8. I love the photos! The coleus, especially the deep red and the variegated (sp??) is gorgeous! I have so much shade here, I wish I'd thought of planting coleus this year. I had never thought of planting cannas in a container. Great idea!

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  9. Here is an idea for your basil, my neighbor makes pesto and freezes it in little glad containers for the winter. I had some of it last winter and it was great. Your containers are AMAZING!!

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  10. very very pretty! I usually just stick with one type of flower per pot....You've encourged me to mix it up a bit :) thanks!

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  11. Thankyou for sharing these gorgeous plants with us. As you know I love plants.

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  12. Very lovely... wish I could have more potted plans, but comes winter, I would not know what to do with them... they would all have to go inside... you enjoy them! Thanks for participating in our "Show Off Your Cottage Monday" and letting us into your lovely home...

    Cielo

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  13. You truly do have one, or possibly two, very green thumbs! I never seem to have luck with coleus for some reason. My sweet potato vines (both the green and the purple) look like they're on steroids. But I'm simply amazed at how lush your plants are.
    Brenda

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  14. Hi Alissa! I've nominated your blog for an award. I really enjoy reading your blog. :)

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  15. Love all the pot's beege! Especially Dad's pot on steroids, haha, always looks so nice! Seeing how nice yours are, I feel a bit depressed about how shady my back deck is and how things seem to just limp along back there. My king coleus looks nothing like yours!! :)

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  16. Those are gorgeous - I love all the sweet potato vines, they are so pretty!

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  17. i'm a fan of container gardens. your photos show why they're so....perfect!

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  18. I love the container gardens, too. You have some great ones. Never thought about Cannas for them. I can't seem to get Creeping Jenny to live..I plant it each year but it disappears after a couple of weeks.
    Mama Bear

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  19. Hi, I’m Yoli from Apron Senorita. I’m blog hopping from Trendy Treehouse and happy to be your new follower. ~ Yoli :)

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  20. Your container gardens are all so vibrant and cheerful. Perfect blooms for the summer! Stopping by from OW.
    -marie

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  21. Your pots look great. Creeping Jenny is one of my absolute favorites and you paired it nicely with the coleus.

    -Rene

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  22. Great photos! I love all the colors of coleus too!

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  23. I love the coleus. I don't have any this year and I'm really missing it.

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  24. All of your plants look wonderful. I too am on overload with basil. Unfortunately I planted it in my flower bed! Can't seem to cut it back enough. Have a great week. Debbie

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  25. Wow, your planters and pots look just gorgeous. You must really have a green thumb. I love the coleus, the leaves so pretty. The coneshaped hanging basket is neat too.

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  26. Oh my goodness.... your flower pots are gorgeous! I am totally in love with the coleus by the cana lily..Do you know the name of it?

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  27. I love all of these plants and have them all. Thank you for the idea of mixing them together! I will definitely have to try this soon!

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