Container Renovations! (smile)

hey KatG,
what's that plant at the very top of your stackable that looks like a "sparkler" ?

http://pics.davesgarden.com/pics/KatG_1181703111_524.jpg

-abl

abl - It's called dwarf papyrus or "Nanus". It really is the cutest and a lot of people use them as pond plants. I've got a few around and they seem to do well in a variety of conditions.

http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/55189

wow, i like the look of yours much better than the others in PlantFiles...so do you have to keep it submerged in water there? or is the soil just kept very moist in that container?

lools like it provides height and makes such a great contrast between your other leafy plants in the arrangement...

did you have to purchase it at one of those pond specialty nurseries?

...I will not have house envy...
...I will not have house envy...
...I will not have house envy...

It's not working.

It's okay Kalika - I don't really live here, I'm just the gardener! hahaha.

(just kidding...I'm very fortunate!)

I was sorting through some photo's tonight and I just had to laugh at the progression! As you can see...I started out with a "pot".

It's amazing what 3 months, a little lunacy, a quickly depleting credit card and a desire to try to grow beautiful things will do.

Oh and yes...The dogs have been out all this time! LOL

KatG - haha no worries, I'm just amazed at your beautiful house. The it's just breathtaking.

Especially as I sit here in my 2 bedroom apartment ;)

Oh Kat I know what you mean about doing one container and then it grows into two and before you know it you have a "jungle". I love your jungle BTW. I too did my first container arrangements this summer. I think I started out with maybe three and now I have several more. It's just so much fun.

abl--I'm glad you asked about the papyrus. I like it too and was wondering what is was. I don't think I have ever seen it offered in my area, but maybe it's just cause I haven't been looking. I'm always looking for tall plants like that to put in arrangements.

kalika--I say we send Kat on a two week vacation and house sit for her. You can take the first week and I'll take the second. hahahahaha Such a lovely place. There is an old thread somewhere that has great pictures of Kat's house and her decorating genius. Maybe Kat can post a link and you can check it out.

Gotta run; I'm wanting to do some coleus cuttings this morning it gets too hot out and instead I'm sitting here at the computer and the clock it ticking.

Patty

You know Patty? That doesn't sound like a bad idea! I don't know when the last time was, that I had a vacation that lasted longer than 4 days. (and one I didn't need to have another vacation to get over, because I cram it all in!) hehe.

The Papyrus doesn't seem to have any special requirements. I basically just water them the same way I would my thirsty annuals (every 2nd day) and it's been hot! In the stacked planter I tried that Moisture Control Soil and it seems to actually require less watering (a couple times a week).

The first couple plants I found at Home Depot. The one that I just planted was a gift and they bought it at Target! I don't see many of them, but when I do I grab them as they are so cute and seem to do well here.

Here's another one I put into a small container. It has grown so many more shoots and I'm finding I have to thin them out regularly, as it gets too bushy and loses that sparkler look.

Hope you find them!

Geez...That picture I sent was when the plant was first planted - Around May 10th. Even though I've been pinching back everything, this is what it looks like about 5 weeks later. I'd say the little Sweetie needs a drastic haircut!hehehe

As you can see...they don't really grow too much in height

This message was edited Oct 4, 2007 6:28 PM

Hey Linda...Because all my plants are outside, I don't have a problem with the watering. I just take the hose to all the fallen leaves and dead stuff!

I just gave my shaggy little pal a haircut, and I think he's looking kind of handsome!

I am so excited about my new plants I got this morning...Crowleys, the nursery I was at last Saturday was at the local Hibiscus festival. I called them this week and they brought them down to me.

This one is really something. I just hope I can keep it looking good.

Jade Vine - Should bloom in about a year

http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/57259/index.html

Another beauty -

Nong Nooch Vine (Petraeovitex)

And a very sweet little Dwarf Royal Poinciana...

My gardening buddies...

The Jury is still out on these Elephant ear planters. They have definately grown, but its still undecided as to whether they are dwarf or will grow to the 6-8 feet the Home depot tag said they would. Either way, I really like them and the "diamond frost" has just taken off! Not a great photo, but check out the Guara (pink butterfly flowers) coming out the sides. I wish I had of planted them more to the front.

I have 3 new garden projects going on that I'm really excited about...

I bought these gorgeous vining plants at this exotic nursery in Sarasota. I finally found a beautiful arbor to show them off with..,

I was just having a little fun with Photoshop here...added the arbor into my landscape to see what it would look like. It's apparently being delivered on Wednesday...I'm not too excited am I? hehehe

Project #2 - found this gorgeous waterwall at Yardiac.

I'm thinking it would look great in with my "Lizard Lounge" container garden...just tucked in nicely.

The lizard lounge container garden...

Project #3 - A beautiful trellis...

And here's the plant I have to go on it! This is not my photo...but I'm hoping in a couple of years my Jade Vine will look something like this! I've only owned this beautiful plant for about a month and it's going crazy with new growth. It needs a real pretty structure to support it! hehehe

Oh, good -- more fabulous photos and inspirations! :-)

I love your new water feature, and that arbor is going to be stunning, especially with that remarkable jade vine!!

Thanks Critter!

I had quite a laugh out of this one though! I was so proud of my upside down tomato planter when I planted it June 7th. It rained like crazy just after that and two of my tomato plants got water-logged. Since then, there are still 2 left in the back and growing fine...but look what's happened to the rest of the planter! There's even an Eggplant growing in there! Hahahahahahaha

What a great photo sequence! Those upside down tomato planters are conversation pieces, but they always look a bit silly to me... so I think your planter's current appearance is an improvement, with that lush cascade of foliage!

I did put 3 'Tumbling Tom' tomato seedlings in a 12 inch hanging basket this year, but they've had a rocky start (too dry, then too wet, then too dry LOL)... maybe they'll fill out and look as nice as some I've seen, but meanwhile at least they're producing a few tasty little tomatoes!

Great projects Kat! Love them all! You lizard lounge always brings a smile to my face. :-)

Janet

Oh my Goodness! Had a great day out in the garden today, but was it HOT!!! Whew! I think the real temp was 94 but the heat index made it "feels like 104". Trust me, it was 104! hehe

Did a bunch of things today...

Had my new Arbor installed on Friday, planted my Double Rangoon and can't wait to see what comes of this...

Pic: Cool arbor...looking down at the waterway. I only planted one Rangoon as I'm told it grows something like 40".

Here's the Arbor looking up at the house. It looks a little squatty to me, but it's an optical illusion as it's so wide (80" opening). Like it so much I ordered another for the entrance from the Dock! haha

Repotted my Plumeria Pudica...this is such a beautiful little tree...Added some purple bloodleaf and Guara...Found these great pots at Lowes. Fiberglass and lightweight and not that expensive.

This is currently the QUEEN of my Garden! I don't even want to disturb her when she's in such gorgeous bloom. I just set her in her new pot!

This is Portlandia Grandiflora...what a gorgeous plant! It's so full of shoots right now and they've just started blooming. The blooms smell like sweet chocolate and vanilla. It's the most incredible scent.

Although they say this plant will reach about 15', I'm going to keep it in a pot where it will probably reach 5'.

A close-up...

I also planted my new trellis with my Jade Plant...I can't wait for this one to bloom, which might take a year,

Cleaned up the Lizard Lounge...

and planted a few more herbs (Dill and some more Rosemary) in this cute planter...This really is amazing for herbs and it's so great just coming out here when you're cooking and grabbing a handfull!

Another new container..

I planted my Devil's backbone with the sweetest little plants I found at Home Depot! Curcuma (siam tuliips/pink Ginger) with another variation of Devil's backbone at the base...It's just different.

This is really beautiful...A florist delivered this gorgeous specimen this morning from my dear friend.
It's the most incredible Stephanotis, in full bloom and so incredibly staked to show it off...It going out in the Lizard Lounge...What a scent!!!

I was out working in my garden last night. Summer has finally arrived and there was a tremendous lightning and thunder display, which was finally replaced by a very cooling and enjoyable light misting rain...

I just happened to look around at my new arbor...and was so lucky to capture this...

I'm constantly trying to figure out how to keep my "Container Addiction" neat! (also allows me to get more pots if I go vertical! hehe). I purchased an indoor metal bakers rack and I'm going to spray it with a protective coating...but I think it's kind of cute on the patio! Need to do a little more arranging though...

KatG,
doncha' just love those colored styrofoam pots from home depot? good price and great color selection! I bought several in many colors, looks like we have the same taste in hues...

can you provide a few closeups of the plants on your baker's rack? (and their names if you know...)

thanks!
-abl