These are some of my favorite flowerboxes to pass by - they are extremely orderly, but the combination looks wild. And the 'flowerboxes' are actually the stone stair rails. Not necessarily anything we all could do, but inspiring nonetheless. The daisies were the perfect choice to bring some height. Take another look after the jump...
This is, I think, the Greek Arch Diocese building. They have a combination of pansies, lamium, and daisies. They had this last year, except there was dusty miller as a backdrop for the pastel colors. This year the difference is the daisies and the extra height looks fantastic over the tight, lower bed of flowers and foliage.
matt at apartment therapy dot com
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I am new to flower planting and for the 1st time in my life I am responsible for a small piece of earth. Can I just bunch all my flowers together like the gardeners do? Whenever I buy flowers they say to space them 12 to 18 inches apart. Are they not going to die anyway? They would look a lot better packed together. Some simple, kind suggestions would help!
view jlg's profile
jlg...I would like to know too! My planters never look this gorgeously crowded.
view spossberg's profile
Those are annuals and will die anyway.
Cram 'em together. :->
I think those spacings are guidelines anyway when it comes to flowers and groundcover. Often landscapers tell me to plant things closer if I want the area to fill in faster.
Here's a container I paid a nursery to help me design and plant (their fee was all of $6).
There are about a dozen or so plants crammed in to this container. Over time they will fill in and become a jumbled mess of foliage and flowers which is what I want.
http://picasaweb.google.com/kclark56/Condo_garden/photo?authkey=dOXF6_r7ew0#5203942412101596546
This one is more modest, it only has about a half dozen plants.
http://picasaweb.google.com/kclark56/Condo_garden/photo?authkey=dOXF6_r7ew0#5203942424986498450
view boomer's profile
Thanks Boomer! your plants look great! Now, I can tell my husband that Boomer said it was OK to plant my flowers close together. hehe
view jlg's profile
If it makes you feel better, these plants are put in the planter after they are already grown to a large size - they are not seedlings by any means, and won't be crowding each other much more than they already are.
It costs a considerable amount more, but I suppose then the owners don't have to wait for the plants to grow in. Personally, I think that's half the fun. Although bigger plants have the advantage of being able to stand up to the squirrels and dogs much better than the seedlings.
view mattplantguy's profile
Oh - and a note about the lamium, it's actually hardy. I always want to pinch some of theirs because more than likely it won't be kept for the following year, and it is super easy to grow from clippings.
view mattplantguy's profile
jlg - this is a picture of two hanging baskets I planted today. Hung from a trellis. I'm running out of space. LOL. There are about a dozen 4" plants in each 24" planter. They will spread out and trail as they grow.
http://picasaweb.google.com/kclark56/Condo_garden/photo?authkey=dOXF6_r7ew0#5210806000284624610
http://picasaweb.google.com/kclark56/Condo_garden/photo?authkey=dOXF6_r7ew0#5210806019942066802
I used 2 kinds of lysimachia, bellflower, bugleweed, and lamium. They're supposed to he all hardy here (zone 8) although some are sold as annuals at the nursery I use. Why, I don't know.
Matt - good to know!
view boomer's profile