Visual nourishment. While SK is working with her readers on the logistics of kitchen herb gardening over in The Kitchen, I am on a reconnaissance mission to scout out flowerbox plants. First stop of the season was the Greenmarket on a Weds. morning.
There were truckloads of brightly colored plants rolling onto the sidewalk, the season’s first arrivals. The pictures I took were at the Hodgson Farms display, which always has good, healthy plants. Every vendor was bursting with color from tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, pansies; all the spring superstars were there. I am holding out, though – I probably won’t plant anything until the first week of May.
When I go somewhere like the Greenmarket I like to imagine what goes well together, much in the same way one might collect and compare color chips or tile samples. I like to start with a foundation, something to unify the whole arrangement. Ivy and moss are common for planters. They spread out, protect the soil and help regulate water evaporation.
While the more colorful plants will come and go through the season, these will stay with you for the long haul. I then look for plants that are of two or three varying heights, with a unifying or interesting combination of colors. I like to keep it simple, there is always room to change or add something bold – it is easy to mix and match, and even have FUN if you do not place too much stress on creating a masterpiece. Judging from prices this season I could see a nice little flowerbox running between $30 - $50.
Many varieties out in the market on Weds. enjoy similar soil, sun, and water requirements. You have many options if you have even one window that gets partial sun.
Do you find yourself always taking the route that brings you by a certain townhouse garden in the city? Have you ever sat staring up at someone’s fire escape, infatuated with the rogue trailing vines that spill over like Rapunzel?
It is possible that you are transfixed by more than the flowers – the flowerboxes and planters are an artistic expression for many gardeners, a reflection of themselves. When I see something truly spectacular, I always stop and wonder about the person who invested their time and imagination into their project.
- Matt N.
you gotta love these:
http://www.eggling.com/
VERY CUTE. I think they would make a nice springtime present. Along this line I have been shopping for ostrich eggs to use as planters (eBay has them cheap). I love how virtually anything can become a vessel for flowers. I really can't wait to see what kind of flowerbox submission appear this year!
love the eggling's opening graphic . . .
Matt,
any suggesting for a vine to grow in a big pot against a brick wall that gets a minimum of sun?
I had passiflora for a couple years with some success...
but it never bloomed *enough*
I think it needed more sun for that.
I'm opposed to clematis.
I have Brazilian firecrackers (flowers like candycorn) in another pot, but those need a ton of sun. Plus I need something that will put out 20' of vine and go twining up the fishing line I've strung for it . . .
gotta figure it out before the first week of May
when the BBG has their plant sale!
weird tip:
emu's have dark green eggs that
look like really large avocados
v.cool
rhea's are slightly smaller than ostrich
and pale yellow
(my friend raises birds....
how much do they sell for on eBay?)
*guido, try climbing hydrangea (linked to my name); it takes 2-3 years to establish, though, and 2 more to bloom,but the results are gorgeous. Also, Silver Lace is good (and I bought it @ BBG' plant sale)
Guido -
Prices on eBay vary, anywhere from $5 - $15 per egg, depending on type and how many you buy. I think I might look for the emu eggs, though, they sound pretty.
Good question about the flowering climber in shade, not something I have much experience with. I wonder if someone out there has had any success with vines in a shady area. Anyone?
Shady areas mostly get ivy. To have flowering vines there really needs to be sun. I WAS going to suggest clematis, but I know what you mean. There are many hybrid versions, though - follow the link on my name for a few.
Morning glories need at least some sun, but can bloom in the partial shade. Passiflora definitely needs the sun.
I was going to also suggest nasturtiums until I saw that they would have to grow 20'. They can be trained to go up string, but not that high. Even if they do not blossom, their leaves are beautiful, though.
You might also want to check out the gardenweb forum on vines - it can be tedious but someone may have something suitable for you.
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/vines/
I will keep my eye out for something nice. Someone on the UES has a massive wysteria taking up their brick wall. Would you consider something that trails down - like vinca vine - or can it only go up?
Tat -
Good call! Guido will just have to commit if he wants that hydrangea.
Guido, ah, the elusive, twining, constantly flowering, quick growing vine that needs no sun. If anyone discovers one I would love to know about it. Meanwhile, there are some great plants that do some, not all, of these things. My favorite flowering vine for shade is climbing hydrangea, but it won't twine up fishing line and takes a long time to reach 20 ft, years actually.
Moonflower, Ipomoea alba, will twine and grow quickly (not really 20' tho) with beautiful flowers, but I think it has similar light requirements to Passiflora. Still, might be worh a try, it is a very inexpensive annual, easy to grow from seed. Even tho it won't flower as much in shade, even a few of these huge white blooms makes an impact.
Variegated kiwi, Actinidia kolomikta, can grow in partial shade too. It's a perennial so takes a while to grow to full size and won't twine on it's own. No flowers, but showy leaves.
matt - guido is a woman.
Guido,
There a several varieties of jasmine, honeysuckle, and sweetpea that do well in shade. You might also look at vining Gloriosa Lilies and Mandevilla vines if you want something unusual... you can order these online. For color, try vining a sweet potato plant-- they grow in lime green, burgandy, red. And try potted Japanese ferns for texture... they get big and do well in shade.
Also, I searched Ebay for ostrich eggs and found this choice item:
Egg Large Ostrich with Woodland Scene Inside with Fawn
Natural Ostrich Egg , Hand Painted and Sculpted Scene
Really?? My world is forever changed. Is Guido the proper first name or a nickname?
You can't imagine how difficult it will be to change the 'voice' that I read her comments in :)
thanks for all the suggestions!
can't commit to the climbing hydrangea because I don't think it will winter over on my deck in a pot. I'd kill for a 50 year old wisteria to be in place, but alas . . .
Variegated kiwi sounds cool too. Same problem, no?
My other most coveted is a Dutchman's Pipe, but the light and the wintering over...blah.
I had mandevilla on my front step last year, and it never really got going. Leaves glossy, a couple of flowers, but . . . small. Looked like it needed to be in the ground instead of a big pot.
Had better lucky with a sweet potato vine on the fire escape a few years ago. Sweet plain orange/black flowers, prolific. You think it would grow up in a shadier spot? hmm
LOVE nasturiums, and always have several pots of them, but they are rather compact.
Morning Glory/Moonflowers -- yes.
I always throw a handful at ugly chainlink fences, and where it will cover my telephone/cable wire.
But I need something that is dense at the base, which those are not --- they're stringy and then tangle up with a mass at the top.
Ivy btw would destroy the brick, so no thanks.
But I will check out the clematis hybrids.
For the record I hate impatiens too, and put them in the same category.
I have a freaky bouganvilla that's been blooming all winter in a window on that same wall...I wonder if it has hit its stride and would keep going against the brick wall...or if my winter window is just sunnier since the trees are bare.
anyone grown bouganvilla in brooklyn?
matt
family name
I turn up female at AT cocktail parties
but no need to change anything online.
I rather like the genderlessness, and am always assuming the wrong thing too. Happy it does not matter!
Guido,
I just remembered a townhouse on 87th between east end avenue and york. They trained morning glories to go up the facade last year, which was four stories. They had a dark, northern exposure but the plants did well and blossomed.
A deck AND sunny windows - sounds like paradise!
brooklyn,
just like living in the country
four story tall morning glories??
HA! Sorry - the STRING was 4 stories, the morning glories got to around 2. Still respectable.