When we lost the Bradford, I just knew one of the things to go would be my window boxes. They are full of shade loving plants..and they just couldn't survive in the hot west sun, or so I thought. But, look how good they look!
They didn't just survive, they flourished! I have had these window boxes for years. Hubby made them for me. I just stick bits and pieces of this and that in them. There is airplane plants, swedish ivy, wandering jews, some tiny english ivy, and of course my favorite...
...coleus!!! I snip cuttings from all my coleus plants and just stick them in the dirt. So easy!I am so pleased with the results, and with all that sun too!
Even the purple heart growing below looks good (although I think it enjoys all this added sun).And the Bluebonnets ??
I scattered seeds 2 weeks ago all around the bed the new tree is in--and here they are! We have had so much rain lately, I just hope they don't drown, but wildflowers like rain early in their life. Hopefully I will have a bed full of these blue beauties in April!
22 comments:
Wonderful news about the thriving window box plants and the bluebonnets! My green thumbed mom had an old pie plate as we were growing up that me and my brother called "the jungle". Mom would put twigs and snipes, etc in it and they would flourish all living in harmony...ahhhhhh memories.
JJ--I wish my kids would have those memories! I don't think they will know about the window boxes--but do think they will remember that their Mom grew bluebonnets! :)
Everything looks beautiful. Nola and I are planning an October field trip. Can you get off on a Friday?
Debbi--Normally I could take off on a Friday unless it is the last Friday in Oct, but this year I am saving my days for DD wedding in November. Darn--wish I could! Working is getting in the way of living! Take another field trip in the spring and let me know! :)
Wow they are thriving and growing well! Looks beautiful!
The blue bonnets are going to be gorgeous next Spring!
They just love the extra sun. Everything looks so good. There is always a silver lining-you need only look or wait a bit for it to come to you:)
Thanks Cindee! It's funny that as gardeners we are already thinking of spring....and according to the calender, it's not quite fall yet! :) I hope the bonnets are pretty. I scattered paintbrush seeds among them yesterday, but the chances of them growing is very slim. I had to try though!
Tina--well said. I have given myself a pity party long enough. I lit candles in back last night as we grilled, it was around dusk, and other than the privacy issue, the yard looked really nice. Gotta keep that in my thoughts. :)
Thanks for the kind words!
Oh, WOW! I have never seen anything more fabulous! Isn't that amazing, and you were so worried. I think they are beautiful. I love the way you can just stick in snips and cuttings.
Linda, they just look beautiful! Even if I am not quite up to working in my gardens just yet, I sure am enjoying looking at your photos - they always give me renewed inspiration and ideas to try...
Your sister,
Kim
Oh, thank you Barbee! I am really proud of the window boxes. They survived the change well (and I WAS worried!) It's kind of fun to just stick things in here and there. Makes for a rather inexpensive way to have a full box!
Hey sister Kim--Mother said you were better...YEA!!!!
Don't get out in that yard too soon.
These plants would all work in your yard...want some cuttings?? :)
Goodness gracious Linda! They look fantastic! To me, that's a "silver lining". I know you have to be happy with those boxes!
Wow, I love the way the boxes look. I must make a note & try some of your idea if you don't mind.
I have one under each window in my little shed & they don't get but very late sun. Lots of light tho.
Sounds like a very romantic evening. Great.
You sowed those bluebonnets at the perfect time! I can't believe they are up already; usually I don't sow mine until the end of Sept, but I think I'm going to run out and sow them now!
I didn't know you could just stick coleus in the ground. Do you have to put rooting hormone on the ends? I've never had good luck with coleus.
Brenda
I was glad to see this posting as well. You get so much joy out of your plants it just bubbles over.
Susie, you are right. Looking at these window boxes take my mind off some things that just couldn't make it. I am very happy the boxes have done so well!
Lola-yes, try using some of these plants in your boxes. Start with something larger, then start sticking in this and that. Get something that will cascade over. I don't have anything that blooms in mine because of the lack of sun, it's all greenery, but that may change next year. (wonder about nasturtiums??) That's why I like the coleus-it added some color.
Nola-I went to a talk at the Arboretum on Wildflowers one time, and that lady said to plant them at the beginning of Sept, but the Wildseed Farm says by the beginning of Oct---so I split it somewhere in between! With this rain we are having, I hope some of the seeds don't get washed away. I am trying paintbrush this year too, but probably will not have luck on those. I hear they are very hard to grow.
Brenda, I don't use anything--just remove the leaves on the bottom of the stem and stick in the dirt. You really have to keep these babies watered until they are established. I start coleus plants all the time. Such fun!
mr--you know..you are right. Just sitting here commenting back to you all gives me such excitement and joy. Love my plants! :)
Maybe they are enjoying the extra sunshine. I know Coleus can take some sun as long as it gets some moisture. Look forward to seeing your Bluebonnets. They are my favorite of the Texas wildflowers. :)
Racquel, I guess the plants are enjoying the added sun--who would have guessed! Not me! :)
I love bluebonnets too. Hopefully, we will have a nice showing in spring!
Hi Linda.
About the boxes--I have the variegated & green Spider plants, also I have some coleus that I can root. I've taken the ivy in the urns below & placed them in the boxes so they will root. I have the nasturtiums planted already. How about the start, ok?
Ohhhhh Lola--sounds perfect! You already have nasturtiums? Wow! I am trying to decide if I should plant some violas in my boxes. The coleus will not live through winter, so I thought pansies might be nice (since I have some sun now.)
On the email problem--why don't you give me your email address..I can email you and see if you can email be back.
I'm so glad that things are doing better than expected in your formerly shady back yard. What a pleasant surprise! Your window boxes are fabulous.
It is a nice surprise Robin. Thanks for the compliment on the window boxes. I am kind of proud of them! :)
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