Do you have photos of your space somewhere I'm missing?

I don't know about "unique," but Costco has some pretty, large pots for under $100 currently. They weren't bright colors....more like a metallic teal.

This IS a timely thread. The calendar tells me that Spring is coming even though the weather forecast still talks about snow. I actually just picked some up yesterday from a local place that manufactures statuary, planters, fountains, etc. Plus they have many different color options so it is semi-customizable. They weigh a ton so don't know about the feasibility of ordering online and having it shipped. That may cost more than the actual product! Is there anywhere like that local to you?

And here is what I got, I brought them home to see size and am considering ordering them in a color. Any opinions on size and/or color? I am finding it hard to tell if the size is right because I know they will look different with plants, and it is still too darn cold to plant anything.

Oakley - I know, it's a big area! There are still a lot of empty spaces that I hope to fill this spring;). Those pots ARE pretty! I've thought about something like a pot to break things up a bit.

Hmm...if you paint your pots? I'm partial to a grass green color...not too dark or too cartoonish...I love green! But as you said, the flowers will be your color!

Lolauren, at the bottom of my above reply I have a link to a picture of the front of my house. Costco? Oh cool! We were just there last weekend but I didn't think to look.

Kellie...lovely entryway! I like those pots! Do you have a dog or kids? It sounds like they are heavy so should hopefully stay put. As far as color? Des your house have some green undertones? It almost looks like Copley gray...the color of my kitchen;). Love it! I'm not sure about color? Maybe add some with the flowers you use? I like the simplicity of the white.

Kellie, I think they're the perfect size. Without the flowers they just blend in, but with flowers I think the white will be nice. Plus, if they're in the sun it will keep the watering down a little bit.

Normally I'd be setting out my plants now, but last week we had an ice storm, will be close to 80 today, and a freeze on Thursday! But you know what? After the past two horridly (sp) hot and dry summers and mild winters, I'm not complaining!

ajc9 , your house is stunning and I love the plant materials you have selected so far. You have a porch set up similar to mine. I have two Adirondack chairs for seating and use a combination of ferns and potted annuals for color. I stuck to earth tone colors for my planters and didn't spend a lot of money on them. I got them from Lowe's and Overstock. As oakleyok said your flowers will be you color.

Here are a few pics of my porch.

Big Lots had some huge pots on sale pretty cheap and they were very light and they were shaped and painted to look like those cement planters you sometimes see. I am not sure if all BigLots have the same things but you may want to try them. This is the first year I have ever seen them

What a beautiful spot that is. What are the white flowering plants you've got in your pic? They're very pretty.

Oops, I did totally miss that link. Thanks. :) Your home is lovely, especially those beautiful posts.

The Costco ones are mostly earth tones. The rims were a complementary (neutral) color to the body, large and returnable if they ever break. I'm in the NW, though, so it might be regional. If I'm remembering the teal-ish color correctly, it would match your bluestar/bluepoint junipers really well.

Sidney, your front porch is so inviting! I'd love to put a large Fern like your's on my porch. Is your fern real or silk? If it's real, do they tolerate very high temps? What about light, what type of light do they need?

You all are getting me excited about front porch decor, especially since I just bought new furniture. Here is the rug I ordered from Frontgate, in the Terra Cotta color. I ordered the 3'9" x 5'5" which will be perfect to go under the coffee table. Plus it's light enough to see spiders walking on it. :)

Frontgate is having a decent sale on some of their rugs.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rug

Oakleyok , thank you. The ferns are real. They love seem to love the location and they thrive even in the warmest summer temps as long as I keep them watered. The biggest problem I have is overwintering them. They usually look a little rugged after spending the winter inside but after I return them to the porch they bounce back.

I have wicker look planters that I used for the two ferns that flank the front door. They are the perfect size and shape for ferns. I got them at Overstock.

I got a bunch of pots at Ollie's at couple years ago. They had some really big ones and the prices were amazing.

I second that.

I have two copper pots for ferns on the front veranda and a few clay pots on the steps/sidewalk for annuals. All of these and the next picture were purchased at Home Depot years ago.

This one is on the back veranda, and going on it's 3rd year planted. The bucket looks like wood, but is not. I've left it outside all winter and it still comes back. I do replace the caladium each year.

I have 2 of these copper pots between garage doors. Love. They are large, so they don't dry out too quickly during our hot summers.

This post was edited by allison0704 on Wed, Apr 17, 13 at 21:51

Allison, I love your bucket planted with hosta and caladium. It is very pretty. What zone are you in that you can leave it in the pot year round?

Sidney, if I didn't already have three planters (a light green wicker one is in the house), I'd buy those in a heartbeat and put them next to the front door with ferns.

Here are the two I have on the porch. The smaller one is now on the shaded part of the porch where I'll probably put the fern. Uh, do yellow jackets nest in ferns? :)

{{gwi:695412}}

Loving this!! Thanks for all of the pictures...so inspiring!

I forgot to mention I'm attempting to re-do a bench my hubby's dad built back in 1959. Plain but sturdy. I'm going to put it on my front porch - it needs a new seat so I'm searching for sunbrella fabrics and fun pillows...

But...back to the planters...beautiful ideas. I'm going to try to purchase this weekend even though our weather feels like February instead of April!

Thank you, Ladypat, I'm in Zone 7. I do replace the caladium each year.

This post was edited by allison0704 on Wed, Apr 17, 13 at 21:50

Fiberglass "stone" urn from Home Depot, with bay laurel topiary and creeping rosemary, lobelia.

{{!gwi}}

Terra cotta pot from Summerwinds Nursery with Dwarf Meyer Lemon.

{{!gwi}}

Oh my....seriously...wonderful ideas! Love the topiary with creeping rosemary, tinan...

I didn't answer your question, Gail! They are limelight hydrangeas... I hope they do well this year - I planted them last fall.

Whew...I have some work to do...what beautiful ideas!

Kellienoelle,I love the urns.

I came across these photos today:

It's too soon to plant in our zone, but I am soaking my seeds for our veggie garden today!

Mtn, your patio reminds me of the one we had growing up. I miss it!

I bought these two topiaries today! I was glad my two year old was being patient as I decided;) not always the case!

it's also too cold to put anything outside in my zone (6) so these little guys will happily wait in my kitchen until I plant them in bigger pots on my front porch with something underneath...like a trailing something? With a wee bit of color...

Thanks all! This pots/planters thread turned into a design idea thread for me...so many great inspiration photos!

Now...if this April weather would only cooperate. It's snowing today!

Love the topiaries. But you can't transplant them --- the pots are the best part!

Haha! I know...I thought about that. They are really cool! Already all mossed up;).

I'm just seeing them either side of my front door, though?! If only I could find bigger pots just like the little ones....

If you google it, there all sorts of "formulas" to try to get moss to grow on pots. It's not easy though ...

Creeping rosemary and lobelia for bright blue color!

Now that I look at them more...I'm wondering if I should have gone a size up. They had larger ones. I guess I was thinking my front door isn't necessarily oversized....

But if I transplant them in larger pots, they are likely to look odd in them? Or perhaps not thrive bc the pot will be too big. Maybe that's a question for the gardening forum....unless you all have some input.

Then there's the cool pots that they came in that just seem to go well with the topiaries!

I agree...love your lobelia for a pop of color, tinan!

Any thoughts? Eh...I don't want to go exchange them...but maybe I should? The next size up includes the mossy pots as well...

This post was edited by ajc9 on Sat, Apr 20, 13 at 21:27

I think you should exchange them, actually the scale looks right for your kitchen counter ...

I think you need the larger size it you are putting them on the ground beside the door. They are very nice though, I think the next size up will be perfect...

Great house! I am crazy about limelight hydrangeas. I have one and am trying to find a spot for another in my small yard.

I really like your topiaries but I fear they will be dwarfed if you put them outdoors by your door, even in larger pots. They seem scaled for countertop or tabletop display. Is there an indoor spot with some natural light for them; a place where you can enjoy them more up-close than by the door? They do look perfect on your counter.

Shoot....I agree. What was I thinking? I will call Monday AM and have them hold a couple of large ones. They also had different varieties...these are myrtle as I recall...

Ok all! Here is a pic of the new topiaries. I swear I'm over-thinking this;). It's fun though...

I tend to like a more laid back look and wonder if one large topiary and then one small one beside it (both on the right) would look better. Just wondering this looks a little stiff?!

The greenhouse people are going to think I'm nuts if I come back again;)

Not sure about transplanting to larger pots bc they might compete with my columns? I do love the idea of having a pop of color beneath them, though...

Thanks for playing along with me;)

This post was edited by ajc9 on Wed, May 1, 13 at 19:52

Here's one more pic....

New to the thread (which I've very much enjoyed reading tonight) but ajc9, I think the scale is not quite right between your lovely home and the topiaries. (They are too small IMO). Love your brick and the beautiful wide columns. I'm now picturing hanging plants from above where your topiaries are,mimicing the front light hanging down, with ivy and other trailing plants. I like the idea of ferns too, in large planters.

Here are my porch pots (and my challenge, need to rip out these bushes and prob. buy new HUGE containers too. Current problem is we have a mixed assortment at this point, some of our current ones (Gardeners Supply I think) are usually at the end of the driveway and not a party goes by without a few casualties...).

And from a distance (yes, I'll head over to the landscaping forum one of these days...).

Oh, so happy to be revisiting this thread. We were 85 degrees yesterday and are supposed to get snow tomorrow. I'd give my right arm for spring, but I guess I'll just have to settle for looking at the pretty pictures here.

ajc9 - I agree that the scale is wrong. From close up it looks ok, but in relation to those beautiful pillars, they just appear to be dwarfed. Oldbattobe has a great idea of going from the top down with hanging baskets so they don't compete. And somebody above mentioned hanging baskets from between the pillars, that would looks great. I like the topiaries, can you relocate them inside so they stand out more?

Oldbat...thanks for sharing. Ugh...this is a bit trickier than I thought it would be!

Is there a walkway to your front door? I can't quite tell. Sounds like you want to pull the bushes and have a fresh start. It doesn't look like there are a lot of existing shrubs so hopefully it won't take too much muscle! Landscaping is tough. I keep thinking I'll hire some help...but the satisfaction of DIY is awesome IMHO! Plus, we've been cooped up all winter and I'm ready to get my hands dirty.

Kellie...your weather sounds a bit like ours this spring. Crazy! Thanks for the opinion...it does help. My family thinks I'm nuts! My mom is coming to babysit for a spell this AM so I'm headed back to the greenhouse. I will be able to think a little better without my wild child!

More pics to come as I slowly figure this out...

Btw...oldbat...a windowbox might be something to consider? My father in law built some for us at our other house. I LOVED them! So pretty with trailing sweet potato vines and flowers.

I'm bumping this up again...I've enjoyed your many replies!

I returned the topiaries...good grief! I agree...just not quite right...not graceful enough or something? Anyway...

I'm going out this weekend to start over;).

Anyone have copper planters?

I did find a very nice hanging planter that I think I will use for the right side of my porch...

Getting there...!

ajc - whatever plant you end up buying, are you making sure the plants are shade tolerant (assuming that spot stays shady?)

Hi lolauren....yes...I love the greenhouse...so helpful with their knowledge and advice. So many varieties to choose from!

Ajc, I just ordered some copper and black (Smith and Hawken) planters from Target online. Anxiously waiting to see if I like them when they arrive...the ones I ordered are square -- a copper pot inside a black stand/frame. The small size was around 14" square which, when I measured on my small front stoop, was pretty big. They have two larger sizes too, I think.

I struggle with containers and plants outside, too. Never feel like I get it right! And I only have a tiny stoop to work with! Good luck!

Just throwing this out -- I wonder if you'd consider a tall metal sculpture of some kind instead of a plant? Just a thought...

SueB...I looked at those too! Love the black frame around the copper. Super sharp!

I am eyeing some from grandinroad as well...they are tall planters...

I would hope they would age properly and it doesn't take an exact science for them to take on that fun patina!?

Let me know how u like them when they come!! I just might order some as well...

I'm editing to address your mentioning of a sculpture. Hmmm...my in-laws mentioned that. If something catches my eye I might go that route. We have an almost blank slate in front and in back...there would be room for one;)

This post was edited by ajc9 on Sat, May 4, 13 at 15:36

I've been meaning to post to this thread for days but have been so busy lately I haven't had time to do anything much but read threads for the most part. I finally ordered some new red cushions (one for this porch) and planted these pots I got on sale last year from Frontgate I think. They were a great deal.

We have six large concrete planters in a basketweave pattern--- four are tapered squares and two are round. They don't move easily and are more or less in fixed positions. For other plants I've used a variety of clay, fiberglass and ceramic pots of different shapes and colors. The lack of cohesiveness drove me crazy, so last year I bought chocolate brown traditionally shaped clay pots and love the uniformity as a background for different types and colors of flowers.

Clay pots:

concrete pots:

Kswl, I like the clay pots too. There's just something about them when all the flowers are in a little row. lol.

I'm thinking aboug going back to using all clay this summer and store my decorative pots.

I know I have a lot going on on my front porch, but here it is!

How pretty! Love seeing all your porches, etc.

Anyone have copper planters?

I posted pictures earlier of mine. The ones outside the garage are handmade using real copper.

The ferns on the front veranda are metal with a copper finish.

This is New Mexico and our goat pots are very common out here. Red geraniums seems to be the flowers of preference and one I prefer myself. This bad boy is mine. He sits, welcoming visitors to our front portal (covered front porch) out here.
Lynn

A picture from last year. I found a set of antique wash tubs. I had them powder coated to prevent rusting and I use them as planters on our cedar deck. I found another set last year but DH is dragging his feet at having them powder coated because it is pricey.