Great Gift Idea for Teacher

This makes a great gift for a teacher, parent or grandparent. Anyone who loves kids and enjoys gardening will treasure it. This gift is designed for young children to do.

This gift is a 10" - 12" Terra Cotta pot with a plant in it. I know sounds kind of boring. But, it gets exciting when all the kids involved sign it. Use a thin permanent marker. Have them sign on the body of the pot, anywhere they want as long as it doesn't go over anyone else's name. Around the band of the pot, write the school or class and the year. If it is for parents or grandparents, write the family name or something catchy like "Oma and Granddad's kids" and the year.

Pick a plant that fills the pot. A 10" hanging basket with the hanger cut off works great. One gallon perennials are also a good fit. Try to pick a type of plant that is upright so it doesn't cover the names.

Add a fancy bow and some Sphagnum Moss to fill in around the top of the pot (if necessary) and voila! A beautiful and meaningful gift for a special someone to treasure.

Herbs in the Garden

Herbs planted in the garden are not just for cooking. Herbs are beautiful, scented plants that open up the sense of smell to add another dimension to the garden.

Rather than just the sweet smells of roses and flowers, herbs lend another dimension of smell to the garden. Spicy, musky, heavy or light, each herb having a distinctly different scent.

Planting, Rosemary, Thyme and Oregano along a garden path will give off a gorgeous aroma as you pass by.
Mint makes a fabulous perennial (in most areas) groundcover, that can take foot traffic. Mint comes in many varieties, each with its own fantastic smell.
Sage is a lovely plant, and comes in different colors, the Tricolor Sage is a perennial favorite. Variegated green and white foliage with just a hint of red on the edges of the leaves.
Lavender, one can never have enough Lavender in the garden. Beautiful grey/green foliage with prolific lavender, purple or even pink (depending on variety) blooms. They smell fantastic and are great for drying.
Dill, Basil and Parsley are great foliage fillers for containers. Mixed with annuals they make a lovely display. Keep these planters near the house for easy access during cooking.
Nasturtiums are a free flowering herb that look great in planters, along the edge of the garden and are also great in salads.

Herbs generally like a sunny, well drained location and are easy to grow. They are not easily susceptible to insects and diseases. Many herbs are perennial, and will grow and spread quickly.
Tender herbs can be brought into the house and wintered over in a warm sunny window. Spray with a solution of soapy water before bringing inside and occasionally through the winter to keep insects away.

If you are going to be cooking with your herbs be sure to use a good organic fertilizer and an all natural insecticidal soap (if necessary).

Herbs like Echinacea and Scented Geranium have long been enjoyed as perennial flowers in the garden. Oregano and Thyme between your roses are breathtaking. Mint and Creeping Rosemary in planters adds a scented dimension that will delight you. Try a few in your garden, you will be surprised and pleased with the performance, smell and look of herbs.

Beautiful planters made from discards

I came across a beautiful little fountain, about 4 feet tall and made of resin. It was being discarded by someone because it had cracked where the pump would go and would no longer hold water. To that person it was useless, to me it would now become a beautiful planter. It has one bowl, approximately 24" in diameter and the fountain part is a boy holding a large carp. Very Renaissance looking. I placed the fountain where I intend to keep it before planting in it. I tucked it under a large Oak tree and between some Hosta. It will get a fair amount of shade there. The planter will drain well since it has a crack in it, however a few pebbles in the bottom won't hurt.

The fountain is a slate color, so I am using light colored flowers. Chartreuse colored Sweet Potato Vine around the edges for a trailing effect over the fountain's edge, White Impatiens and Coleus to fill the bowl of the planter.

It is an unusual item to choose for a planter, however, once planted it looks as though it was meant to be that way. It is a lovely addition to brighten a shady spot in my yard.

Another simple way I kept something that will never deteriorate out of a landfill. Reduce, reuse, recycle.

Big, Beautiful Summer Containers!

The key to planting beautiful, bountiful planters that will make your neighbors jealous, we have a few basic rules to follow:

1) The Bigger, the Better! Select a large decorative container. 18” – 24” works best.

2) Plant the container where you would like to keep it, or put it on a plant dolly. It will be heavy.

3) Make sure there are drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. If there are none, drill a few in a triangle pattern. The planter should also have a saucer.

4) A drainage medium should be placed in the bottom of the pot, about 2” deep. Recycle broken terra cotta pots or Styrofoam peanuts as your medium. Pebbles work well also, but are heavy.

5) Choose a quality blend of soil. Your plants are only as good as the soil they are planted in. The soil should be loose and light. Fresh potting soil should be used each year for best results.

6) Choose your plants. You will need a variety of plants in different heights, colors and textures for the best effect. This is where you need to use your creativity. Don’t think you have any? Have a child help you. Or, plan ahead. Look in magazines or on the web and write down the names of the plants before you go shopping.

a) First, choose a centerpiece. A tall plant with interesting foliage work best. Suggestions for sun: Canna, Ornamental Grasses, Mandevilla on a trellis, tall flowering perennials (Coneflower, Black Eyed Susan, Penstemon Husker Red) or a shrub such as Sky Pencil Holly. For shade: Calla Lillies, Caladiums, Day Lillies, Spikes or Hydrangea.

b) Next, choose trailing plants. More than one variety works best. Choose three: Two flowering and one foliage variety and alternate them around the planter. Proven winners are always a great choice, and are easily available at garden centers and nurseries. Be sure to look for varieties that will do well where you plant them. Sun or Shade.

c) Last, choose your filler plants. Medium height, bushy plants. Choose one flowering and one foliage variety. Pick colorful plants. Hosta and coleus are great fillers for sun or shade. There are some varieties of Hosta that will tolerate more sun than others, so read the label.

d) When putting all this in your planter, install the plants as they are listed. Fill the pot about half way and place your centerpiece. Then fill around it until the planter is about 2/3 full and install your trailing plants. You may need to adjust the amount of soil depending on the size of the pots you purchased. Place all the plants and then gently fill in around the plants with soil one handful at a time. Be sure to press down between the plants to avoid air pockets. Water thoroughly and re-check the soil levels. Settling may occur, fill in wherever necessary.

7) The final and most important steps for Beautiful, Lush planters are food and water. For large luscious, stunning planters…water, water! Do not let your planters wilt between waterings. The best time to water is early morning, before 10 am. This will keep them stress free during the heat of the day. Planters in full sun will require more frequent watering (often daily) than those in part sun or shade. Plants that are stressed from lack of water will not bloom well or flourish.

A good quality organic fertilizer will keep your plants happy and healthy. Some organic fertilizers are slow release, so feedings are less frequent. Read the label for feeding schedule. A water soluble fertilizer we recommend is Merrill’s Compost Tea. Just drop one tea bag into one gallon of water, let it steep for 20 minutes to one hour and then water your plants as normal. Feed with this product every 2 weeks throughout the growing season and your planters will amaze you!

This process is how the professionals do it. Design and build your planters as early in the season as your area will allow for maximum enjoyment.

You can view a selection of beautifully handcrafted all-natural cedar planters.