Northeast Gardening: window boxes, 0 by sempervirens

sempervirens wrote:
I have small concrete planters along the hot driveway with plants that overwinter well. I am 1 zone warmer than you candyinpook but as I understand you need to get plants 2 zones colder to allow for the more exposed roots. I have Irises, varigated mint, rose campion, penstemon "Husker Red", Phlox subulata (low but evergreen), seaholly and red russian (edible) kale and chives (lavender blooms all season and good compliment of Irises). The rose campion forms silvery rosettes that look good until February. The husker red penstemon also forms rosettes with red veins which look nice with the similarly veined but larger leaved kale, add thyme for smaller leaved texture. The plants that maintain rosettes look nice in the winter backed with evergreen boughs and berries, the evergreens will also add insulation. Pansies would be a pretty addition but I have too much wind or don't remember to water enough for them to survive in pots. I've even tried them in large pots that were well wrapped.