I've never tried growing fuchsias before. They do look beautiful in hanging baskets. Variegated ivy will add some nice contrast. I can't wait until next season. I think my porch will be softened up and much more inviting with these additions. Thanks for the ideas! Kim

There are some great begonias that would do well in a hanging basket, and I used to do the trailing type of fuschia. Another nice trailer is the annual Lobelia. And don't foget that shade garden standby, Impatiens. The New Guinea ones are big and have beautiful foliage. They would look good as the main upright plant, with the dark blue Lobelia as the trailer.

I didn't mention anything about helichrysum, don't know what it is, but I got the iresine (and geraniums in the photo) at Lowe's last year back on a rack of plants that had gone droopy for 1/2 price. It's tough. I let some of it wilt, watered it, and it came right back. Of course, you can't neglect it for very long and it wouldn't like dry conditions, I don't think. If you can't find any, I could send you some for postage, someone will have to advise me how to pack it. I rooted up bunches of it in plastic cups for a plant sale and can sure spare 4 or so. Then you could root whatever you wanted for yourself. Here is a photo I took last year. It almost touched the ground before I brought the window box in the house, got much thicker, and when the sun hit it in late afternoon, it was such a pretty red. Call around to see if you can find some, and if you can't email me at aglessREMOVETHIS@earthlink.net

Impatiens, balsam and begonia may do well there. Balsam if you wanted a tall plant. Trailing torenia would also be pretty; it's a little harder to find but Calloway's had it last year. Several kinds of ivy would look nice as well, either by itself or as a companion to flowers. Algerian ivy, pothos, asian jasmine - though they would need to be kept sheared back a bit to keep them compact. I'm bringing all of those trailers to the swap Saturday if you are going to be there and want some.