Monday, July 28, 2008

Window Boxes--mid summer

The window boxes outside my breakfast room window are just beautiful! In this heat there is not lots of lushness in my garden, but I can always count on the plants here to look good. I don't have anything that blooms here--just greenery. Over the years the boxes have changed looks many times. I have tried so many different plants, but discovered that what works best is a mixture of many things.



There are 2 boxes resting on brackets. My husband made the boxes for me trying to match the cedar on the house--which it does!










Remember the
"airplane" plants from the 70's? That's what I started with. But I must confess--I thought I was buying Liriope grass! I just grabbed them up quickly at Home Depot one day. Pleasant surprise as they have worked so well!



What makes the window boxes the most fun, is that I go around my yard and pinch off this and that, then just stick it right in the dirt. I have to make sure I water enough, but they are easy to water. There is very little sun because of the tree, so I only use shade plants.


Coleus is one of the best plants to "stick" in the boxes. I have so many different kinds of coleus--their color really adds to all the green.



I also pinch off my wandering jew and nestle it somewhere.
Last year I pinched off some ivy (I think it might be swedish ivy, but I am not sure.) I thought it was dead back in the spring, but it was not and it has grown and grown!







These little window boxes give me so much pleasure and fun. I think they are without a doubt one of my favorite things. They are very simple, didn't really cost anything, but they hold a very special place in my heart!

"It's the simple things of life that make living worthwhile, the sweet fundamental things such as love and duty, work and rest, and living close to nature." Laura Ingalls Wilder

11 comments:

JenningsJunk said...

I too love your window boxes. Very fun that you can just put "pinches" of other plants in your window boxes and they thrive.

Meadowview Thymes said...

jenningsjunk,
It IS fun! Just about everything I put in there lives too! That's always nice.

Anonymous said...

Love your window boxes Linda. The variety of foliage colors and textures are very attractive together. And your hubby did a nice job on the cedar boxes too.

CiNdEe's GaRdEn said...

The window boxes look just wonderful. How fun and how nice to just clip off and stick in the soil. That makes it even better!!! I love window plantings. I tried a window shelf this year and potted geraniums and set them on the shelf. I have really enjoyed them.

Meadowview Thymes said...

perennialgardener--Glad you like the window boxes! I love all the texture too. They have been so much fun and so rewarding.


Cindee--I saw pictures of your shelf with the geraniums. It is beautiful! The red geraniums looks so good against your house!

Susie said...

Thanks for visiting my blog. I enjoyed viewing your window boxes. You obviously have a green thumb if you just stick plants in them and they root and grow. I don't always have that kind of luck.

Meadowview Thymes said...

Susie, thanks for visiting! I like to think I have a green thumb, but really it's just luck and picking plants that will root in dirt! : )

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walk2write said...

I'm glad I saw your comment on someone else's blog. I enjoy seeing your philosophy played out in your plantings. The virtual garden tours I'm taking by visiting other blogs help me to keep things in perspective.

Meadowview Thymes said...

walk2write--saw your comment on Susie's blog. So, you are a John Denver fan too! Not many of those around. I am lots older than you and Susie--I was a fan back when he was really popular, and have remained a fan.
The garden tours are enjoyable. And you are so right--I think you will find garden's are so much like their gardener!

Barbee' said...

I love that look you have achieved. Just goes to show that we do not have to have bright flowers everywhere.