Winter.

Just as the groundhog predicted, it is still winter outside and will be for a few more weeks. It was nice over the weekend when we were able to play in the snow, but now that the snow is melted and it is still freezing outside, what are we to do?

There are some colorful plants that can brighten up your winter garden, and help you hold out for the spring blooms.

Beautiful pansies and violas are always a wonder pick for the winter, and they look great in pots all by themselves.

Snapdragons are also a great choice and look wonderful as cut flowers in an arrangement as well.

Ornamental kale is a plant whose color intensifies in the cold, but will last all the way into spring. It is great for massing in beds and also looks wonderful in containers.

And one of my favorites, paper whites. They always look great, and are a fun center piece for arrangements.

Most of these winter blooms are on sale in nurseries now so it is a perfect time to go buy a few and brighten up your containers until spring.

Galvanized Metal Containers

As you can tell from previous post, we love galvanized metal containers.  There are so many uses for them from beer tubs to baby pools, but one excellent use for them is planters.  This is an inexpensive chic alternative to container gardening.

A couple tips that will make your life easier when using galvanized containers as pots:

1) Add drainage holes.  This is easily done by taking a hammer and nail and poking about 10 small holes in the bottom of the container.

2) Add a layer of newspaper around the edges before you plant.  Because the metal is so thin, the plants are more susceptible to heat and cold.  This will help protect them.

Good luck!

Window Boxes

I have had a couple request for a post on window boxes, and I love special request!  If you have any email me, and I will be sure to do a post for you.  Now, back to window boxes...

 

The picture below, of the store Lush Life in Buckhead, says it all.  What a great illustration of how window boxes can greatly enhance the look of your house.  

One solution to the planting design of a window box (or any planter) is to center the planter with an evergreen (or a series of evergeen plants) such as boxwoods.  Then plant seasonal color around the sides.  This has a great effect and you do not have to to replace as much seasonally.  The picture below is centered with three dwarf boxwoods with perennials and annuals surrounding.

Another solution is to hire someone to plant your containers for you, such as Container Gardening of Altanta LLC.  Below are some examples of window boxes that they have done.