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A morning dew glistens on the petals of Pink SunPatiens. A flower that enjoys 6 hours of sun and when planted in enriched potting soil will propagate to a height of 8 to 10 inches with several blooms of variegated depths of pink color. A hearty garden or container plant that thrives being watered often.
This plant comes in many colors offering a choice of personal preference to please the gardeners eye.
A large container garden offers the opportunity to design a palette of varying colors and heights from tall to trailing. A success ful tip is to make sure your container has drainage holes in the bottom, a layer of different size rocks to direct excess water to the holes thus keeping your container soil moist only. Use a product made by Bonide that you mix all through out Miracle Gro enriched potting soil to keep unwanted insects from destroying the tender roots of your plants.
And now the design for this container garden feature:
Coleus is the tall backdrop adding strength and height
A mix of Pink SunPatients and Purple Salvia blend to make a center fullness
Licorice and Sweet Potato Vine add a strong edge of support and trailing softness
Plants like to be pinched to remove past blooms and leginess. A healthy approach for them to thrive with continuing growth and blooms.
A welcome for all to be greeted by color and fragrance. A welcome for Hummingbirds also.
White Cleome also known as Spider plant grows as tall as 4 feet. This plant loves sun and should be planted in a garden. When planting in a garden use a spade shovel to turn the soil to loosen it and break up any soil clumpls. To enrich the soil add organic composted manure. This will aerate it and help with drainage. Again Bonide insect deterrent mixed in according to directions will eliminate tender plant rootings from being eaten. Plant from seed using directions on the package or purchase starter plants. After planting spread straw or mulch around each plant to minimize weeds from growing. Useful tools in a garden are the following: spade shovel, hoe, pitch fork and small garden tools.
Bees are pollinators and are beneficial to all flowers. They are drawn to the nectar which is at the base of the flower stamen and in doing so pollen is dropped onto their outer structure. The bee then goes to another flower where this pollen is deposited. Bees add beauty and diversity to any garden thru this process.
This photo captures a bee visiting a Cleome. A Hummingbird and Butterfly will stop by later for thier visit also. All of them pollinators for Mother Nature.
A window box can serve as a small container garden with varying types and colors of plants. A fertilized potting soil should be all that is needed. A hayrack with a cocoa liner adds a farmhouse look when placed under a window on a house, garage or shed.
Purple and White Verbena plants mixed together offer an array of variegated color accented by their dark green foliage. Not seen here but used often in a window box is a plant called Vinca which trails down and outside the window box adding more character to the design
Steps & Ideas
Planting a garden, a container garden, a window box or a pot offers you the opportunity to care and nurture in living color. Time and care are part of the process with watering and weeding. The gift in the end is the picture you paint that blows in the wind and shines in the sun.
