What I Planted: Weekend Container Gardens

So I bought these pots on closeout last winter. They were clay pots and I bought a total of nine in different sizes and patterns. I've had this vision for the thin bed that lays between my house and my sidewalk, and this weekend the vision (mostly) came to life. I planted Impatiens, Begonias, Sweet Potato Vines (three colors), and tucked some Rosemary, Basil and one Tomato (variety: Sweet N Neat) into the pots -I think it would be nice to have a few herbs handy sometimes, and besides, they're pretty!  There were some Dianthus already existing in the bed just full of blooms and I direct sowed some Salvia (Fairy Queen and Evolution) and Coleus (Rainbow) a week ago today, so we'll see if they come up. I thought I could see some signs of it, but I'll have to wait and see if it's the desired species or just weed seed….

I can't wait for them to grow and fill in. Last year I only tried a couple of pots in there but I enjoyed the look so much that I wanted to do more this year. Different levels, texture, shapes and color. Kind of “Ranch House Meets Cottage” I think.

These two pots are 1) Impatiens, Sweet Potato Vines, Begonia and 2) Geranium, Sweet Potato Vine, Begonia.  I used Potting Soil for these containers so weed seed in them (hopefully!) will be a non-issue, thank goodness. It will be nice to get a break from that.  

Have a great week! ~JB was here……

A Garden Geek and Her Toys.....

I'm a geek on several levels but I'm to the age now, I'm OK with that…..LOL. I love new garden gadgets. Or should we more accurately call them my “toys”?  This is my new gardening can that I just love. I saw one in Missouri Gardener and wanted one right away. There were so many reasons! It's made from recycled plastic in the USA. That's important to me. It has a little container onboard to carry your plant food in, and a measuring spoon on top to measure it with, as well as a date dial to remind you when to feed again. The grips are really comfortable, and although it's a two gallon can, it doesn't feel that heavy when you pick it up-very well balanced.

Additionally it has a place to attach the sprinkler if you want to stream and not sprinkle around your plants, and a place to store your garden gloves.

I love my new gardening can!  If you want to learn about them you can find information at www.theucanbrand.com and, btw, I don't get anything for that. I just think it's a good product and wanted to share that with my friends.

Have a good week in YOUR garden.

~JB was here…….

On A Warm Spring Evening, Early in the Year......

This year everybody's talking about the extraordinarily open winter and early spring we are having here in South Central Missouri. One evening in March when this Flowering Crab was on the wane, the light was just beautiful and the observance of early flying insects was enhanced as they fairly sparkled. To the left you see the fenceline and how green and  beautiful the pasture is. It was just magical.

I GARDENED......

This last weekend I spent mostly outside. I enjoyed myself soooooo much. I mulched, edged, planted, weeded, fed, and otherwise got in touch with my agrarian side.  

Here are a few little views of my two days. 1.Shiny fresh foliage on my roses. 2. The James Galway rose reaching for the sky. 3. Big Fat Rosebuds on the first of April! 4. Phlox. 5. Tulip. 6. “Free Blooming” Viola. I don't know what that is supposed to mean-the plant was not free. LOL 7.Pansy 8. Tulips 9. Dianthus (a perennial variety of this specie)

If you stopped in, I hope you have a great week! I have a lot of pictures and ideas for posts lately! I just have to light somewhere and get them put up!  ~JB was here.

What I Planted-Daylily Additions

Oh, my. I have a full blown case of spring fever now. Even after the mild winter we've had!  I've barely had time to plant anything, I think that means I need to reanalyze my priorities. Ha!  Anyway, last week I saw some Daylilies in the store and added a couple of new varieties of these simple and forgiving beauties to my yard/garden.

I seemed to be in a “Pink” Mood. For a few years when I was a kid, everything I had just  had to be pink or purple or some variation thereof…..I guess I still have spells of that.

Daylilies are tough and do not need much care. A good example in the country where I grew up in Southwest Missouri were those orange ones that grew everywhere, even on the side of the road. Those were brought in a long time ago by people that settled the area, I'm told anyway. You don't see as many now. I think if I do I am adding them to my beds just as a tip of the hat to “the old days”.

This cultivar is called “Romantic Rose”.

I picked up a second one. I like the various bicolored ones too. And as my aunt said one time, it's just amazing that there are colors that go together and colors that don't, but when they are together in nature, all the colors look beautiful together. I've never forgotten her saying that. She lived across the field from us, and I just loved her as a kid growing up.

Here then, is my other new one, the bicolor “Orchid Candy”. I mean, come on. Who's NOT buying something called Orchid Candy?

I fully  expect these to bloom the first year. They usually will unless you transplant them at the wrong time.  I like the ruffled texture on this one. I have a lot of yellows and reds, and oranges, and I just felt compelled to start adding some pinks to the mix.

I hope if you stopped by you have a great week. ~JB was here.