We all have flower pots sitting here and there with our favorite plants growing in them. You can buy flower pots in many different colors and sizes but have you ever wished for something that would match the flavor of your landscape, something unique and original? Here are some ideas for planters and flower beds that you may find to be just the creative touch you are looking for.
In my yard I have an old wheelbarrow where I have planted canna lilies for the past few years. I also have an old wicker chair that serves as a plant stand placed in front of a poplar tree to give the plant shade. An old sand box is now a flower bed for tulips, hyacinths and hostas. Along the edge of my yard is a terrace wall that divided my grandfather’s cornfield from a field of black-eyed peas many years ago. Now it serves as a border around the yard where I have planted a multitude of old-time shrubs and flowers from my grandmother’s yard that are very difficult to find anywhere else. They grow well along the terrace among the dogwood trees and moss.
Near the front steps we have an old utility sink filled with potting soil where I plant annuals in the summer and kale in the winter. Kale stays green all winter and has pretty stems — some yellow and some red. Before putting the dirt in the sink I placed several layers of newspaper in the bottom to cover the drain hole and keep the dirt in. Water can still drain through the newspaper so the sink doesn’t fill up with water.
An old pair of tennis shoes or worn out work boots containing snapdragons, marigolds or some other annual with pretty blooms would look nice sitting on either side of your front steps or on your porch or patio. Even a house plant that can be set outside in warm weather would add a cheery green touch to an old boot. A boiler or other deep pot from your old set of cookware makes a great home for columbine or foxgloves.
At one end of our yard there is a tall cedar tree and underneath it are several very large rocks moved from different places to make a circle at the base of the tree. These rocks serve as interesting surfaces to set things on. In between the rocks there are strawberry plants that produce berries each spring. Sitting on the rocks there is a wire basket with a lining of moss where I plant geraniums or a large begonia. Another rock has an old metal teapot with some petunias in it. A large ornamental pepper plant growing in a plastic cauldron left over from a Halloween party sits on one and an old metal mailbox dresses up another with moss rose streaming out of it.
To the side of the yard I have two large galvanized steel washtubs that hold herb gardens. Rosemary, thyme, cilantro, bay leaves and oregano grow well there. Beside them there is a dogwood tree that serves as a trellis for a Cherokee rose. At the base of the tree where the roots have grown near the surface of the ground, I have dug a small spot for some wild violets. They love the shade and the soft dirt between the tree roots. Two trees at the other side of the yard have grown close together and there is a small pile of dirt between them. I have planted cardinal vines here and they run up the trees decorating the trunks with their beautiful red flowers.
My mom had an old wicker chair with a hole in the seat in which she had put a trash bag rolled down to fit the space and filled with dirt. She planted brightly colored flowering annuals in it each summer and it was a beautiful centerpiece in her yard. Nearby was the stump of a dead tree with the middle hollowed out a few inches down and refilled with dirt. This held different types of mint which continue to come back year after year.
Recently my husband has built several wooden manger-style planters on legs. The planters are made in different lengths and depths and are painted or stained to blend into the area where they will sit. They are deep enough to hold tulip or daffodil bulbs or even dahlias. Another good idea for this type of container is to fill it with strawberry plants.
Of course wooden barrels always make a very attractive planter for any kind of flower or green plant. A new favorite of mine is a wooden frame for a day bed left behind by one of my children, grown up and moved away, in which I have planted potatoes. The large green plants thrive in the bed with compost added to make the soil rich. Near the end of summer I can dig in the dirt and gather the fresh potatoes.
You can take a dry gourd, cut the top off and make a pretty container for a small plant. An old -time bathtub on legs makes a beautiful and spacious planter. For a small flower, a watering pitcher or even a coffee cup makes an attractive addition to your kitchen counter or flower garden. This also makes a great gift.
Look around your house and see what interesting containers you may find that could be turned into the ideal planter for your favorite flowers. You may see something that you had never considered using before!
Reference:
- www.whiteflowerfarm.com/growing-dahlias.html
- www.hgtv.com/topics/flowers/index.html
- www.almanac.com/content/container-gardening-flowers
