Container Thoughts

12 /12/12 Keeping it contained

Rip Van Winkle

Sarah's Pink

Outside the back-door there are two stone troughs which have been home to a variety of bulbs and annuals. Last year they were joined by two pedestal planters which have also hosted an assortment of bulbs and annuals all with varying degrees of success. Last summer I had a mixture of fuchsias (as always) trailing pansies and Red Nicotiana in the pedestal planters and an assortment of herbs in the stone troughs. Now that most things have died down it is time to think about next year's plants. The back door faces south but gets shade form a huge old Escallonia Macrantha for some of the morning, this will suit herbs well. Having the herbs right outside the door was really useful so I plan to properly fill the troughs and planters with the ones I use most. There are parsley, chives and lots of lemon thyme remaining so I shall increase the parsley (justly known as the king of herbs) but the lemon thyme needs moving and labelling. I made a lovely mushroom risotto and cut some thyme to add a bit more flavour – lemon flavour – it was certainly an acquired taste! To these I shall add in some common thyme, mint, oregano, coriander and maybe rosemary. Hopefully there will be space for some basil too.

Lysimachia

Viola

The front of the house faces due west so it gets the sun nearly all afternoon which makes it perfect for some of the most dazzling summer flowers. The old butler sink by the front door was filled with yellow and orange Nemisia last summer, a really good buy because they flowered all summer long with no fiddly dead heading. Height was added by pot marigolds, which also collapsed so added width too. This old sink is a bit of a problem though. It is a haven for slugs and snails who love to live in its drainage holes so they have been filled with gravel to try and keep the pests out. There is no shortage of garden centres and nurseries round here but there seems to be a shortage of inspiration when it comes to ready to plant annuals. Tried and tested plants are one thing but Geraniums, Lobelia and Petunias however pretty are not really my idea of exciting. Having looked through my rather old copies Dr Hessayan's flower and bedding plant books for some different ideas I have currently decided to grow a Canary Creeper on the trellis at the back, Portulaca to cover the sides and probably Californian Poppies for the middle. I am also tempted by the bright colours of Annual Chrysanthemum Carinatum (Court Jester) or Gazanias so these could go in some of the other containers which will soften the edge of the deck.

Anagallis 'Sky Lover'

Sanvitalia

Caliobrachoa

Scaveola

My final thoughts go to the hanging baskets. Last year saw one with a magnificent Nepeta and a Lysimachia 'Midnight Sun' by the back door, until I went on holiday and somebody didn’t water it so I came home to a very dead basket. The baskets at the front never really got growing. They had trailing geraniums, lobelia, violas and fuchsias but nothing flourished. So what will it be? I have a passion for Fuchsias but the very sunny spot at the front won't suit them, they'd be better at the side where there is some shade for part of the day. That is also a good spot for Begonia Pendula, very pretty but still not that unusual. A whizz through online seed and plant sellers has given me Bidens 'Gold Star' or 'Golden Goddess', Anagallis 'Skylover', Scaveola, Sanvitalia 'Aztec gold' or Caliobrachoa in an assortment of colours.