I only started last year myself, so I don't have any first-hand advice. I can, however, recommend my favorite book on the topic, "The Bountiful Container" buy McGee and Stuckey. They have info on how to grow all sorts of foods in containers, including "recipes" for several mixed plantings, and succession planting, too. I find myself referring to it again and again.

Morning Dove is lovely Beverly, but if I'm not mistaken it appears somewhat similar to Sleeping Beauty, which is also in this bed. After giving thought to the size issue (thank you ConnieMay!), I think the way to go is to move FW to a NW bed (hopefully she'll be slow to wake up and avoid frostbite) and move my Autumn Frost to that spot. AF is a medium and I think will offer just enough contrast with the AH to make things interesting. Plus the AH is a good size and will eventually cover that window well. I appreciate the help!

Either annuals or perennials would be fine. Mainly I was just wondering if people had any good or bad experiences with anything they planted with their lilies in containers. I like the look of flax, haven't had any in a while. It is possible, though, that they might want to take over... I seem to remember that the little patch I planted did become a big patch of it in a few years. Still, the notion of white lilies surrounded by clouds of blue does capture my interest. Hmmm... I think whatever does go in there, I would like it to stick around for a good part of the growing season. I love pansies and violas, but very shortly, they'll be blasted by heat, I'm sure. I tried keeping some lovely pansies going through the summer one year, but they kept frying and getting aphids, so it wasn't successful. Going to go look up Euphorbia now...

Hi Courtney! It is raining here now as I write this and it was raining at bedtime last night. In our county, April through June is our best chance for rain. Some years we receive little if any rain in the summer months, although rain often starts up again in very late August or early September. In a bad year, the rain may not start up again until October or November, so I know we need every bit we receive. After two years with a lot of drought and the corresponding low humidity, it is a little hard to get used to the higher humidity again. I am really dreading the onslaught of mosquitoes, which has already begun here. I won't spray insect repellent on my skin, but will spray it on my clothes if the skeeters are abundant. Your ornamental sweet potato is probably Marguerite, which is the one that's been around the longest. There is a newer one called Sweet Caroline Yellow, but it has a different leaf shape and is not as rampant of a grower, at least not here so far. Two nights ago I noticed blooms on my Sweet Caroline purple. I seldom have blooms on my ornamental sweet potatoes, but they are pretty, somewhat resembling a morning glory. Isn't ornamental oregano gorgeous? I don't know why it hasn't caught on more with the public. It still is fairly rare in nurseries in our area. The first one I ever saw was 'Kent Beauty' but my current favorite is 'Amethyst Falls', although 'Rotkugell' is lovely as well. Rains like we are having now is why I have to build raised beds for almost everything, and also why I am constantly trying to amend my slow-draining red clay soil. At this point, our soil is so wet and there is so much standing water that I feel like I am living in the middle of a pond. We have not experienced much flooding, just the creek being up a little out of its banks briefly, so I feel very fortunate. Your DH has my undying respect for his service to our country. I hope you both will remember that there are many, many of us 'anonymous Americans' out here who appreciate everything they do and have done for our nation and for the cause of freedom around the world. My DH and DS both work at D-FW Airport. One of their favorite parts of their work is the chance to help welcome home arriving troops. The folks at D-FW try to give all the arriving military troops a big welcome. On a day when DH or DS has been a part of that process, they come home raving about how wonderful it was. I am glad you are having butterflies. Red Admirals are all over the verbena bonariensis in my garden this week. I just love the butterflies. My very first garden bed on this property was a butterfly bed right outside my kitchen window so I can watch the butterflies even while working in the kitchen. I love the fact that your son considers the butterflies his 'friend'. And 'Norm'? Oh, that is just priceless. I think everything about having a garden and landscape that attracts butterflies and hummers and other forms of wildlife is great for kids. It does provide you with numerous opportunities for 'educational experiences' and you son will be having so much fun, he won't even realize how much he is learning! Dawn