Perhaps others have had different experiences, but purple coneflowers and rudbeckia have always grown tall for me (2'+) and aren't very wide at the base. This means they tend to catch a lot of wind and don't have a lot fo anchorage against the wind. As a result I plant them in the ground in groupings where they can support each other.

I don't know how stable they would be in a container due to their growth habit. I haven't tried it. I think they would do just fine in container culture, but maybe pick up some bamboo stakes to add support for them, just in case.

i do quite a bit of container gardening. i have an area of about 17 pots. my advice is to use large pots, i use 18"-20" pots. one perenial per pot. this will allow the plants to grow large, and depending on how hot it is, how much you have to water. watering is very important, do not over-water, it will kill your plants as i know. mainly just expirement, it can get expensive, buying the pots and soil can really add up. but it is worth it. i really enjoy my small garden of containers, its different and fun! use terra cotta pots for that earthy look, very sharp. also put a couple of vines in pots and go vertical. well, good luck!

-chris

I had well over 100 pots last year - many are perennials.
I also have 2 trees- a purple leaf plum and a choke berry.
The latter I chose because the birds like the berries.
I also have 2 blueberry shrubs that I planted with the birds in mind, but every now and then I get to have some too! :o)
I have 2 Black Eyed Susan plants. While I'll dead-head them during the season, come September, I leave the dry heads for the birds. The finches love 'em.
Here's one of the plants:
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Also good for attracting birds- Sunflowers.

Here are 2 goldfinches eating the seeds-
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Ans a woodpecker-
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And a chickadee-
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Fushia, cuphea, red runner bean & hyacinth bean vines, among others, will attract hummingbirds-

Here's one sipping from my fushia-
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And at the cuphea-
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OoS

Here is a link that might be useful: More garden shots (and other stuff)

wow, thank you for your advice! outofspite - those are really nice pictures. those are all container plants?!

i originally had a bird garden planned, but then we decided it wouldn't work out because of the perminance (sp? sorry, i'm lazy). so then, since i'm very stubborn and persistant, this idea came along.

i was very dissapointed though at the thought of not being able to plant small tree-like specimens. is it possible to plant one in a container? does anyone know the size, or have one? i'd appreciate feedback on that. :)

justaguy2 - i was thinking about that earlier today... you're very right. i think if i do that i very well might go out and pick up some supports too.

wildflowerchris - thanks for the feedback! luckly i know a place in the area who provides pots at a very reasonable price too, and these aren't flimsy brittle little things either. ;) any vines that you know of that birds like more so than others?

any vines that you know of that birds like more so than others?

Depends on the bird ;-) Hummingbirds seemed to adore cardinal climber last year.

abbybirds- Yes - all container grown. My yard is totally bricked, so EVERYTHING is in a pot - not counting the weeds that come up between the bricks. LOL!
The majority of my pots are 16", 18" & some 20". I have a batch of 12" and smaller as well.
I'm going to have to transplant the two trees. Not looking forward to that job! Right now the chokeberry is in an 18" pot and the plum in a 20" one. They have been in these same pots for about 5 years. I originally bought them at (now defunct) Frank's Nursery in gallon containers.

This is the purple leaf plum The first year. I bought it in April 2003(I think). This shot was taken May, 2003-
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Here's my yard last July-
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I think the total was just over 160 pots.

OoS

Pretty much anything that can be grown in the ground can be grown in a container - outofspite's gorgeous container garden photos are clear evidence of that. You just need to keep in mind the size of the plant on potting and how large it is likely to get and select an appropriately sized container. Selecting for hardiness is a concern as well - generally the recommendation for most hardiness zones is to select a plant that will be hardy at least 2 zones lower than yours. With the right soil mix for the specific plant's growing conditions and attention to all the other variables (light, fertilizing and water), you can grow quite large trees and shrubs in containers long term with good success. I have 10'+ trees that have lived their entire life in large containers.

Thanks, gardengal.
About 90% of my yard gets full sun - especially along the back fence. That's in the sun for about 9-10 hours during the summer. I'll plead the 5th when it comes to fertilizing. I'm one of those, "Oh! I guess I should feed you guys something" type of person. LOL!
I usually go only 1 zone lower. The tropical types (Cannas, callas & tuberose) over-winter in my mother's basement. A couple of others (hibiscus, geraniums, etc) are brought indoors. I have to keep that at a minimum- I don't have the space or the light to keep them.
One thing about perennials- since they spread, every 3-5 years or so, I divide them. So where there was 1 pot, there are now 2.
My daylilies were in one pot, left by the previous homeowner 10 yrs ago. The year after I moved in, I split them into 3 pots -- then those were split. I gave some to Mom and an uncle - so I'm back to 3 pots. Otherwise, I'd have about 8 or 9.

OoS

Outofspite, your garden is gorgeous and you've given me huge ideas for what to do with a the spot in front of my house where my lovely 15-year-old Japanese Maple was growing. Poor thing was destroyed by a late frost last year and I had to have it removed recently when it was obvious that it didn't make it. I have been grieving its loss. I'm going to put in a collection of pots on different levels. Bless you outofspite! Wow! Amazing grace!

outofspite, i agree with gardengal, your yard is amazing! purple leaf plum, do those have fruit? i always thought they were a cultivar that didn't. please correct me if i'm wrong.

that's good to hear i can plant small trees! :D

thanks everyone, i'm practically inhaling all the advice i can get! :)

i'm itching to get outside now and plant, seeing as i just had a nice flock of about thirty cedar waxwings yesterday :) the lighting was bad for pictures, sadly. not that i could have, anyway. my camera's battery likes to die whenever something interesting happens. namely last season when the local wild turkey brought her poults for a visit!

Nope. No fruit on the PLP.
Pretty flowers with a light fragrance.

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OoS

:O that's breathtaking plant, for sure! :)

outofspite- I was just telling my husband that I'm not going to do as many containers this year...you have inspired me! Beautiful garden!

Gorgeous... amazing... very nice photos too! Thanks for posting them, they are inspirational. I swear the overhead shot looks straight out of Sunset magazine!

Do you use a bark based mix or is that just mulch?

Uh-Oh! Palynew!
I hope your hubby doesn't blame me when you go pot crazy! LOL!

wormgirl - It's just mulch on the top.
I have to repot that one this year - a task I am not looking forward to.

Re: the overhead shot - I take a pic every Saturday morning from May through the beginning of Dec.
This way I can watch the garden evolve.
These pics show the 1st ones taken each month.

MAY 2007
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JUNE
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JULY
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AUGUST
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SEPT
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OCT
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NOV
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DEC
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OoS

Here is a link that might be useful: The entire 2007 Weekly Update Series

outofspite: this is absolutely fabulous. Thank you for sharing & inspiring! I too am in NY6 and am currently working on establishing a cottage garden but also want to start a container garden on my deck (to outwit the deer). The weekly photos is a great idea. Thank you!! Happy Spring..... enjoy your paradise.

that's a really good idea!