A Plethora of Pots
May and June have been a crazy, busy time; a “hair-on-fire” time for those of us in the gardening business. Or as my kids say a GYO time, which stands for Get-Your-Own, as in dinner.
I have lost track of the number of summer pots I have planted over the last two weeks. Each pot I planted was unique. While I know using a formula, for sun or shade, for instance, would make things go more quickly I would rather create custom work which reflects the style and preferences of my clients. I have one client who only wants green and white. Her container featured spathiphyllum, white verbena and New Guinea impatiens, helichrysum and lamiastrum.
A new client with a roof deck liked only vibrant colors – no pale pinks or lavenders for her. Some croton in her planters anchored the “hot” color palette on the sunny side of the deck….
….while a red begonia and beautiful ‘Creamsicle’ caladium echoed the palette on the shadier side.
Often a client’s outdoor accessories will suggest colors. In the case of another client, the cushions used on the chaise lounges suggested salmons, brick reds, and orange. Of course to keep my containers interesting I always incorporate a hefty dose of great foliage. The canna ‘Tropicanna’ has the most beautiful leaves, especially when backlit by the sun. Both the coleus ‘Wedding Train’ and acalypha, with its mottled leaves of pinks, oranges and yellows are beautiful without flowers and will give the containers interest if/when the flowering material takes a break.
As the various plants fill in and grow together the whole composition will get even better looking.
I finally planted my own containers last weekend. Fewer than in years past which means I must be getting better at estimating what to buy. Because, for my containers, it really is a matter of making do with what is left over. I gathered together the onesies and twosies of what had not been used in the previous weeks and went to work creating. The front of the house is pretty sunny and I had some material in the orange/burgundy/yellow family that I could use. I was especially excited about the variegated abutilon, otherwise known as Flowering Maple. I had bought quite a few because I fell in love, only to realize that there were not as many clients that favored orange as I had thought.
My first two pots were flanking the garage.
One either side of the evergreen I planted an abutilon and the caladium ‘Creamsicle’. I had to see how it performed…it really was so unique. I also added some orange celosia, lantana, geranium ‘Mrs. Pollack’ and some helichrysum. And since no container is complete without coleus I added coleus ‘Campfire’. Other pots near the cutting garden were planted with an orange lantana standard.
By the front door, things were kept simple with some large alocasias and lamium at the base. Very dramatic from a distance.
I get most excited about the containers on my back patio. It is a shady area with dappled afternoon sun. The one plant I always try to incorporate, if I can find one, is the shrimp plant (justicia).
I don’t plant it for me – I plant it for the hummingbirds. The pot is just steps away from our table and during many dinners they have come and entertained us. Because I plant it as a standard, the hummingbirds are right at eye level.
I like my pots on the patio because they rely heavily on foliage. Why? Because my patio is where I relax with a cup of coffee or glass of wine. I do not want to look at containers that remind me I should be deadheading. Foliage takes care of itself. The color scheme on the back patio is dictated by the black iron table we got from Walmart years ago (which is a testament to the power of spray paint) and the cushions from Home Depot. Just shades of green with some hints of mocha. My pots use lots of green plus a bit of burgundy to echo the shrimp plant and tie in with the chair cushions.
It’s a very strict color palette which I find very relaxing. This year’s pots contain lamium, many different coleus, calathea, alocasia, trifolium, astilbe and heuchera. What is so fun is that they are completely different from last year’s.
I love container gardening and even though this season has been very busy, I know am blessed to do what I love. With the summer pots done, all that’s left to do now is watch how the plants grow and fill in over the coming weeks. Time for that glass of wine.
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