Tulips

How are all of you? Please tell me that one of us is sitting on a warm sunny beach? This weather is really getting to me...more snow last night. I know, most of you are sick of it, too. I'm thinking of tulips, and tulips make me think of spring. 

My open letter to Spring....

Dear Spring, It's been a long time. I don't care what that oversized rodent saw...shadow....no shadow...you need to come NOW!

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Source?

Sunken Garden Canada

And now for the happy news..

The winner of the Pajama Giveaway..

Congratulations Jennifer @ The Pink Pagoda!

I'm sure your pajamas will be pink.

This is really funny because I met Jennifer by winning one of her giveaways over two years ago. It's a full circle moment.

And speaking of circles, where are you Mr. Sun?

 

Planter Planning

Does this ever happen to you? 

Once spring starts, you are feeling happy and ambitious with your container gardening plans. Online you go......in search of the perfect pair of planters (Peter Picked a Pepper)....and you find them!!

So excited am I...are you...into your virtual basket they go

AND they are 'sold out'!

This has happened to me too many times to count. I have learned that late winter is the time to plan your outdoor living items....planters in particular. 

Since I have no idea where or what my next patio will be, I will be refraining from purchasing, but dreaming and planning away.

I love everything about the entrance to this London flat.

Via

And here ya go.

Thos. Baker Planter / Smith & Hawken Planter

Wayfair did it again with this beautiful maintenance-free version, or this one. (note: this has been updated since the original planters have been sold and the post is several years old).

Learn from my mistakes and start your planter planning now. How do you like those Photoshop skills? Did you notice the color of the prices match the different planters? 

#ThingsToEntertainMeLateAtNight

A Plant for Every Room

Hi Friends, are any of you planting along with me today? No worries if you're not....this post will be waiting for you when you are ready. Here are the final steps for the Lowe's Sponsored Challenge.....Migrating Garden. With all my plants, containers and soil ready....let the planting begin. 

Matching the right plant to the right container can get really frustrating at times. The easiest way for me is to actually hold the plant in the container. It's like trying on a dress, and just like a dress...it looks better when it is not too tight.

Once you have decided that you like the scale and fit of the plant, remove it from the plastic container

Sometimes succulents naturally break apart when you remove them from the original container. This is another example of why I love succulents...a free plant!
I like to use the plastic container as a scoop for the soil. Fill your new container with soil

Make a well for your new plant

Put your plant in place and gently add more soil if needed. Be sure to lightly press down on the soil all around your plant

Dust off the dirt...I like to use a paint brush

Now that wasn't hard. Trust me, this is not beyond your abilities! 

A little more difficult, but still totally doable....is the arrangement of multiple plants. For this one, I like to start with the largest plant first

Then step it down a size

And gently tuck in the smallest plant last

Sometimes, when you remove the plant from the original container ,the roots are tightly bound. Before you replant gently separate the roots.

Once the roots are separated, you can see if you like the fit for your container

It really is that easy. Now for the fun part...travel around your home and find places for your Migrating Garden.
White container grouping...no tray

With a tray

DIY Tray Tutorial

The succulent arrangement

The blue & white grouping

With a plain bottom tray...that a few of you thought should be the third option (I totally agree and am glad you suggested it)

Can you spot the free plant that separated earlier?

Now if this wouldn't make the sweetest hostess or teacher's gift...I don't know what would.

I hope you give indoor gardening a try. I read some study once that said "gardeners live longer". I have no idea if it is true, but if it is...I think this would count!
If you haven't already grabbed your free subscription to some of the many Lowe's magazines...you can do that here. 
Finally, this is a list of my Lowe's Challenges for the year...just in case you missed them, or we didn't know each other back then:
Holiday Window Box Mum's The Word Cleaning Garden Tools Organizing Your Garden Stuff Garden Shed Makeover & Easy Window Boxes Adirondack Chair Makeover & Monogrammed Table
Happy baking, wrapping, or shopping...enjoy the moment whatever it is.

Easiest Plant....Ever

Hi friends, welcome back to my Lowe's Sponsored Challenge.  If you recall from yesterday's tray makeover post, I am working on a Migrating Garden. 
I mentioned that indoor plants don't like me. Here are my thoughts on that;
Plants are just like men....we want to live with the ones that want to live with us! Allow me to introduce you to the only plant species I have never killed...
Succulents!

For those of you who are already in love with succulents, just enjoy the pictures. For those of you who have always wanted to plant one in your home.....as the guy on that tv show says, 

"Let's Do It, People".

First, let me tell you a few reasons why I love succulents.

They have an architectural quality about them

They have a free flowing form

They have a wonderful variation in color (coral edged)

They look like my hair when it's humid

They come in lovely shades of blue-gray

AND....some of them bloom

Without going into the great debate on weather or not this is a cactus....I will tell you that they love dry soil. 
If you are anything like me, can you fit a plant watering schedule into your life? I can't.....so when you look at your succulent and think..."when was the last time I watered that thing"....you know it's time. Container round-up time!
 Here is the fun part....go around your home and pick things that you would like to put a plant in. I decided to have two groupings.
The white container group

The blue & white group

One last thing on the supply list...this soil mix

Now go round up your supplies and tomorrow while the cookies are burning baking we will plant them up together. They make great teacher's gifts.
If you are feeling really ambitious, you can go over to the Lowe's Creative Ideas page and learn how to make this container.

DIY Cement Container Tutorial

I also have a Pinterest board for Container Gardening.
See you tomorrow!
Update - Here is the planting tutorial

Friday's In the Garden....Contain Yourself

Hello everyone, and welcome back. This week I managed to get some of my containers planted.

I spent Mother's Day in my garden. It is exactly where I wanted to be. My family was great...they washed my car (seems like an annual event), got my favorite breakfast sandwich, and some lovely cards along with a few gifts. The day ended with sushi! It was perfect. Here are some of my container choices this season

In the black self-watering container, I transplanted some Lambs Ear

For this small container...just a few different coleus

Again, I put in Lambs ear (it will perk up soon). I also transplanted a blue hosta and more coleus

 For the window boxes...every year I can't decide (remember the waffle). 

I went with a purple striped wave petunia and some chartreuse potato vines. I also mixed in a blue columnar juniper flanked by variegated boxwood's. Those three will live over the winter, so next year should be easier (who am I kidding?).

I only bought a hanging arrangement once...maybe twice...and each year I replant the basket with the colors of my current season. I have more to plant, so I am off. What are you doing in your containers? 

If you love window boxes, you may enjoy some of my window box posts here.

When in Doubt...Go Up!

Last year, I decided to give my containers a bit of height...in a royal way. I picked these metal topiaries up from HomeGoods, and spray painted them a French Blue.

The structure added a support for an annual vine to climb on.

It also filled the vertical space in this corner

Of course I forgot to take an end-of-the-season shot! As the saying goes, "my garden was perfect, yesterday...wish you were here, then". What do you plant in your containers?