Spring Flowers and Planters

Welcome to the first Garden Party hosted by 4 other bloggers and myself.

This will be a once a month Garden Party and we'd love for you to join us with a garden related post.  

Since our snow has just melted I'm not exactly gardening just yet so for this first post I have chosen to share pictures from last years spring flowers and to talk about how I like to use planters for my flowers.  These are three darwin tulip varieties called Life's A Cabernet, All That Jazz and Light and Dreamy.

These are a wonderful darwin tulip called Design Impression.  Tall and very sturdy and the flowers last for days.  

This was taken around May 9th last year.  My lilac topiary tree was leafing out and some primrose were also in bloom.  Once our plants start to grow it really comes on fast.

PLANTERS

Last year I created this display on the deck to view with a variety of planters.  This is directly outside from my kitchen dining area and I enjoyed viewing it each morning.

I primarily use planters for my annuals.  Container gardening is easy to maintain with watering and fertilizing plus they stay virtually weed free.  Planters like these allow you to place them where you want and if you have a limited space it allows you a burst of flowers contained in a small area.  

 Last year I tried something new- I put some variegated Iris (a perennial) in this planter for the accent it offered (later in the fall I transplanted to a perennial bed).

I used the black obelisk for plants and I added the three piece blue glass mosaic balls to the top for some visual interest and more color.   A few years ago I started buying few blue planters and last year I painted the other planters white to look as summery as possible.  The black metal plant stand is actually meant to hold a bird bath but I chose to use it for a plant.  

I stacked two planters together and added a metal obelisk for the Black Eyed Susan vine to grow on it and there was some Vinca Vine and yellow Lantana that filled in as time went by.   

Much later in the summer you can see how it really filled out!

This is an old world looking planter and cherub.  I stacked some bricks below the cherub to support it.  I filled it with more Lantana (Verbena) which the butterflies love.

I chose this "tulip" shape planter and decided to plant this large Caladium in it.  You don't always have to add multiple plants to get a nice look in a planter.

Later on it had filled out beautifully.  

I have been using this metal garden art ball with this planter for a few years.  I loaded it with a double impatience and by the end of the summer it was completely full.  The impatience get kind of tall and the framing helps hold them together  forming a nice rounded shape.

I like the double impatience flowers- they resemble little roses.  They usually sell them individually potted vs. in trays or flats so they are pricer.

I planted my frog planter (from Pier 1 several years ago) with lobelia and this "Pink Chaos" Coleus.   I like whimsical garden art.

I've also used containers for fairy gardening.  Using a planter to have a fairy garden is a great way to enjoy one in a small area.

As the years have rolled by my fairy gardening expanded.  Each year I have a new design.  

These are pictures from last year.

I use many things like artificial turf, stone walls, and various fairy garden accents.   I created stone paths along with both artificial and real flowering plants and ground covers.

I say be creative and allow your inner child to have some fun! 

I also like to create garden vignettes to enjoy just because!

I'd love for you to follow through the summer as I continue to do posts of my gardens.  You'll find a spot to subscribe on the sidebar of my blog.

I hope you will link-up and visit other blog posts.  

The next Garden Party will be on May 25th.

At Home With Jemma

Have A Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

Home and Gardening With Liz

Life and Linda

Poofing The Pillows