Stop that swirling there, Kate! Your creative vortex really sucks! (Sorry...just couldn't help myself!)

I have an old footed colander I plan to line with some moss and plant something in, but other than that, my containers are pretty typical, I guess. Lots more blue ceramic ones, I hope. And yes, lots of coleus again.

How about some white nicotiana in your sitting area? The "woodland" variety gets about 3 feet tall, and has sprays of the extremely fragrant white flowers that last for a long time. And they often reseed in the area, without spreading all over creation. I will look up the Latin name if you're interested, because I think you'll need to start them from seed. Most of the nicotiana I see in the stores isn't all that fragrant, and they are small plants.

I have one of these that volunteered in a big container that was lying on its side in the pot ghetto, and it bloomed all last summer, with no care at all.

Marcia (I owe you an email...hope you are feeling better)

For a white area,,,White pentas
white geraniums,White desert rose,jack frost ,allysum,white plumeria the new one that blooms alot and keeps its leaves I don't know it's name.I think they make a white mandevilla don't they?

kate, do you have crawford's "Container Gardens for Florida"? there's a lot i can say, good and bad, about the book. but it is a great resource full of ideas and solid advice re plant choices. it's a bit slanted, as all her books are, towards zone 10. but we'll all be in z10 soon...

I was in Home Depot recently and bought a tin pail for painting. It cost something like $2.....I was thinking...ya know...this might be an interesting planter! Plus, you could even hang it from the handle! Drill a few holes in the bottom..voila! Even paint it if you don't like the silver.

As far as white plants, what about Night Blooming Jasmine? Fragrant, creamy white blooms.

I've used various types of (clean!) water/sewer pipe (clay, PVC, etc)standing on end and put flower pots in the top. You can make a very attractive arrangement of several different hights wtih pots of weeping type plants. I used white marble Contact Paper on PVC once for a very classic group of three "pillars". Check construction sites for "leftovers". cora

All great ideas! Thanks!

(I guess we don't have too many Mel Brooks Blazing Saddles fans. I expected somebody to say "Ditto!")

Be sure to put metal and tin containers in some shade.I have scorched a few plants in the Florida Sun!

Kate, I think most people on this forum hate four o-clocks.

However, mine have always been quite well behaved. Either white or white/soft yellow on the same flower would look pretty in your sitting area.

Kate depending on how well you can keep them in check I love 'Moonflowers.' Nothing lights up the night better than those huge white blooms, lovely fragrance too.
Disclaimer: House may be eaten by this vine. But it sure will be pretty at night.
Nancy

Ummm...well, I liked Blazing Saddles, Kate...but I turned my response into a joke on your swirling vortex. I don't think *I* have one, myself. Well...maybe I do, but it isn't creativity that's swirling in it, I don't think!

Marcia

What about dwarf white crown-of-thorns underplanted with purslane and blue wonder?? That would be pretty.

I have a moonflower vine that reseeds each year in this spot. It grows in and amoungst a coral vine. I also planted a Lady Margaret passion vine on the other end of the trellis hping to balance out the coral vine. But the Lady Margaret abandoned the trellis and crossed over into a cypress tree! I didn't realize it during the summer but when the cypress lost it's own greenery, the vine was very obvious.

Since I'll be using pavers to finish this sitting area, I think I'll also use them to build in some planters. Plus I like the idea of using clay pipes in different heights. I can build those in too or even put them around the edges.

I definitely need the woodland nicotiana! All colors. Marcia, if you find it buy a packet for me and I'll get them from you.

I've been enjoying white verbinia for sunny spots.

And for creative containers, I haunt thrift stores and yard sales for things I put a hole in. I especially like brass pots.

My sister actually turned me on to this idea, but the last time we went to Marshall's she found a set of really funky ceramic mixing bowls and she brought them home for my husband to drill. They were very cheap and they came in 3 different sizes, since then we go back often and find weird bowls and stuff to drill out. What about some of that lake view jasmine for a little white with scent?

These are not creative containers but I like them.
Down Under Pot with Perilla :

Flower pouch with begonias and coleus ( growth in progress):

Boots with verbena and petunias:

More Shoes:

We have this guy that was rescued from the trash:

Also a tea kettle that my husband forgot and burned the bottom out of and an old chamber pot.

Oh Regine! Those are very creative! I love them all! I am trying to get my hubby to build me a standing container on a post.

Source for seeds

Here is a link that might be useful: Seeds

Thanks for that link, Linda. Diane's is where I got my nicotiana to start with. I love her seeds! And the woodland tobacco is nicotiana sylvestris, the last on the list, Kate. It is much prettier than it looks in that picture, believe me. I think you'll love it!

Marcia

Thanks!

Gardencpa, I'll give that frog a home any day you don't want him any more. I love him, how did any one toss him away. You have a great find there, good for you! I love your other photos as well. ;o)

I have one large glazed ceramic pot near my front door that I planted variegated flax lily, fire witch dianthus, and silver dicondra in that looks great. A white four o'clock voluteer started in it that for some reason I never pulled up. I'm glad I didn't since at night the white flowers almost seem to glow and the scent is fantastic. The silver dicondra has trailed over the side of the pot and is now pooling around the base. It kind of looks like a small water fall.

Something I've learned from past experience is that if you're going to have large flower pots anywhere near a tree, particularly a crape myrtle, make sure to put a stepping block or a piece of concrete under the pot or the tree is likely to send it's roots up inside it through the drain hole. I just discovered that my large urn shape pot that's sitting under my crape is full of tree roots.

Here's a picture of an old washtub that my neighbor gave me that had a hole in the bottom. It fits perfectly on top of a pine tree stump in my garden and is currently planted with a mixture of herbs.
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Here's an old iron habachi that I found along side the road a few years ago and planted moss rose and purslane in.
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You can also use old or damaged flower pots as bits of garden art.
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Nothing too exciting...
Pot in a Pot - I use cheap clay pots.
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excuse me I have to go out and straighten this pot.
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This one has always been fun...very inexpensive to build (tho it's not my own idea - ima copycat!). It changes from time to time...usually with the seasons...I'm always looking for new container ideas, too...tend to get pot ghettos going on here!!!

Beautiful!!!!

For those of you that place your containers on the ground and in your beds, HOW do you keep that ants out of them??!!
Or do you just leave them be?

Theresa

These are not my ideas, Rockledge Gardens sells them.


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Nice combinations! I like the idea of using butterfly weed in a container. Great height and as the cats strip the leaves other plants in the basket should fill in and cover up the bare parts.

Linda, thanks for the link to the seeds! I'll definitely be using that.

Ants: Theresa, I almost always end up with ants in my containers. If it gets really nasty I sprinkle on a little bit of fire ant killer but with so many pets around I hate to use it. Sometimes just a good soaking with the hose will get them out but really that just sends them somewhere else. I don't use many chemicals in the garden but I do keep ant killer on hand.

I tried the pot tree last year with a piece of rebar and the pots all tilted in different directions. (Thanks for posting that photo, Beth!) It looked great for 30 minutes then started to tilt! I think you have to secure it to something very strong like a porch column to keep it stable. I love the look and may try it again - this time I'll tie it off to one of the supports on my big vine trellis. It's a perfect way to show off lots of coleus varieties.

I keep thinking about how cute the shoes and boots are too. I would like to do a grouping with them in tiers kind of like the tilted pot tree. Looks like I'll be making a trip to Goodwill to pick up a variety of short and tall boots!

For ants, you can try a teaspoon of Flea and Tick Shampoo in a gallon of water and pour it on the plant.The Pyrethrins in the shampoo should get rid of the ants.

I have some tipsy pots by my front door and they are not attached to anything. You have to make sure the rebar is deep enough in the ground so that it does not wobble. The soil in the pots will keep them balanced properly so they will not shift.

For the tipsy pot tree I think my big problem was that I used the green coated 'rebar' from the big box store. Not real, heavy duty actual rebar like used in construction. It was deep in the ground but way too flexible to provide sufficient support.

Thanks for the tip on the Flea and Tick Shampoo. I've never tried that but usually have some around for the dogs so next time I'll use a little on some antsy containers and see what happens.

I used that green coated bar the first time too. Big mistake! The regular rebar works much better, but make sure you get at least a 6 ft length.

I used copper pipe for mine...has been good n sturdy and looks good, too but as a precaution we 'strapped' it to the patio during the 2004 hurricane season...withstood just fine. I think the key is going deeply into the ground, too. I agree, the tip on the flea and tick shampoo is a good one...I'm plagued with ants here. grrrrrr They're everywhere, they're everywhere.......

Hi
What a great collection of dish gardens . I love to make these things just to see how they work never able to have a pot with only one plant just keep planting until I kill the wholse thing.
When we put in a new bathtub I immediately saw a free container but the neighbors see junk lol
Worked fantastic for tomatoes .How often do you get a container that size for nothing??
Okay I'll admit it might look a bit tacky but I'm a frugal person lol gary

Gary, sink the bathrub partially below ground and make a water feature. Hang a bucket over it to "pour" water into the tub via the recirculating pump, and you have a great sound, too!

Marcia

Marcia
Thanks for the idea but already have 4 water garden lol.
I'm redoing the 5x10, above ground to make it more functional as well as more decorative. I added a 2x8 foot window so you can see below water level, new filter and circulation system as well as a heater.
I have it full of water now and the sunlight playing on it is fantasti!!! The glass did not explode and has not leaked a drop in 4 days!! Granted the viewing window is not good at ground level but hey' I can lay on the ground lol.
At last I'll be able to see my beautiful fish from the side ,like God intended.
Maybe someone will have some suggestions on the coping around the top?? Have used Vinyl timber for many years but am adding tile to the sides that show which makes the vinyl look like VINYL lol
Had an idea of putting a Faux finish on it since it will hold paint beautifully, never rots ,mway cheaper than real stone. Was think of Lace agate, Malachite'Marble or really exotic. Copper veined turquoise.. Have several hesitations. ,won't hold up to the weather, will grow algae,ruining the effect. and last It will make my house look even more like a dump.
Anyone have suggestions.??. I'm so thrilled to finally
getting to work on this project without cutting too many corners gary