Sunday, June 26, 2011

Containers In The Front Garden

I went with the earth tones and tropical colors for the front garden this year.  I have a pretty neutral sand tone house with some weathered copper and rust tone accessories so really just about any color plantings will look good.


Hawkerii Impatiens, Bronze Moneywart, Pineapple Splash Coleus, Angelonia and Dracena with Autumnale Fuchsia in front.


The leaves on the hawkerii variety are as interesting as the flowers.

Pineapple Splash Coleus

I love Redhead Coleus in the turquoise pots!

The concrete planters in front have the bronze sweet potato, much more controlled than the original Marguerite.  Citrus Supertunia has filled in beautifully (no deadheading required) with orange New Guinea impatiens, heat resistant lobelia and Diamond Frost Euphorbia.

Orange and Saffron Yellow Calibrachoa (million bells) dominate this planter with orange and yellow Gerber daisies and bronze carex grass.


I wintered over the agave cactus and purchased new purslane and crotons for the south side containers.

Container plantings are tricky because you usually don't know until the middle of the season if they are going to work.  There are already some plants I would not use again but we'll talk about this later.

24 comments:

Sissy said...

I must've spent ten minutes staring at each of your photos in today's post! Your combo containers are so beautiful and interesting, you truly have an eye for color and texture! I would be interested to learn which ones you did not like as much because they all look just gorgeous!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Sissy,

The front planters are doing well, but there are a couple in the back that I would have used different plants. Some I changed because the plants I used in early spring were not doing well when the heat hit.

Eileen

Shirley said...

Despite your recent storm, all is looking well. Don't you love the vibrant colours of the new coleus varieties? I like the colour combinations in your daughter's planter which contains the bronze sweet potato vines and the citrus supertunia. Very nice.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks SHirley,

Yes, I love the new coleus and that it can grow in sun or shade.

The planters are mine, afraid my colors would not look so good with my daughter's red brick.

Eileen

Diana LaMarre said...

WOW! Eileen, those are stunning...
where do I begin...
Hawkerii Impatiens...I have never seen nor heard of, but what a great plant to add foliage interest!

Red coleus, turquoise pots -- great combo!

I just said WOW out loud when I saw your daughter's citrus Supertunia planter. I have never seen citrus petunias either, but they look great with her coleus selection. She must had gotten the plant decorator gene from you!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Zoey,

All the planters are mine, so I took out that comment about my daughter's red brick home, was confusing.

I had not heard of that impatiens before this year but this variety was on Bernie's blog in Austrailia.

Eileen

GRACE PETERSON said...

Eileen, you've done an amazing job on your planters. I'm especially fond of the "concrete planters in front" with the Citrus Supertunia. I too love the Redhead coleus and those turquoise pots. Bragging rights are all yours.

BernieH said...

Wow, Eileen, I just love them all. So many very familiar plants and the combinations are knock-outs. Adored the Impatiens/Coleus/Angelonia/Fuchsia combo ... with the exception of Fuchsia, I've grown all these thigns but I have never put them all together. It works!

Red Head is always amazing and it looks even better in those turqoise blue pots. The container you created for your daughter is inspirational. How on earth you get those Calibrachoas to flourish like that is beyond me ... I've never had success with them to that extent. Fabulous stuff.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Bernie,

The planters are all mine, my daughter would not be able to use these colors with her red brick. Sorry, I made such a confusing comment, finally took it out.

I first saw the hawkerri at a local nursery and then on your blog. I have never seen this impatiens before, just lovely.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Grace,

I love the new coleus that gets so large and will grow under just about any conditions.

Eileen

Larry said...

Your containers look marvelous Eileen! Larry

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

What beautiful container plantings you have! You really know how to put great combinations together. I love all the colors!

Rainy Day Gardener said...

I am so jealous of your coleus. I can't get them to grow at all. Your containers are worthy of a magazine article, just gorgeous!

Diana LaMarre said...

Ah, no wonder it reminded me of your work. It was! :)

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Eileen girl I just popped on here for a few minutes and my jaw is still on the floor girl !
Your containers are simply stunning and I am in love with them all!!
can you come up here and get me on track with the same ones please ???
I love that new coleus pineapple splash ? we haven't got it up here yet .. and the citrus supertunia? I love it to bits !! the copper vine makes it totally perfect.
The orange and saffron yellow calibrachoa is beautiful !!
I can't say much more other than I have to scrape my jaw off the floor and hats off to you girl ! Those are such gorgeous containers I would have pictures of them in my garden office to remind me how? perfect they looked !! hint hint
Joy : )

Balisha said...

I'm speechless...which is hard for me...I'm going back to have another look. Beautiful!
Balisha

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Larry,

It's interesting that the tornado and the high winds didn't seem to bother the planters.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Catherine,

I do have fun doing planters and like to change the color scheme each year.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Jenni,

I never used to care for coleus but with the many new varieties that will take sun I use them a greal deal in containers and the garden.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Joy,

The Pineapple Splash and the Citrus Petunia are both from Proven Winners. I think they distribute in Canada.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Balisha,

I do enjoy putting together those containers!

Eileen

Mary Anne said...

Eileen, your containers are amazing! So unique and colorful. That citrus petunia is a WOW! Where did you buy that petunia species?

Heading to Harbor Springs for the 4th.
Let's make a plan when I return!

M.A. ox

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Mary Anne,

We'll gwet together after your trip!

Eileen

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These containers are amazing! I love all the colors. It is a great deal in containers and the garden. Thanks for sharing very beautiful pictures.
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