Sunday, May 29, 2011

Potted Containers

Today I would like to share with you two of my patio containers.  Growing attractive plant combinations in containers becomes more appealing to me every year.  The key recipe I always use when creating containers is to include a thriller, fillers and spillers.  Sounds pretty easy ...


Your thriller plant should be your centerpiece this will give you height and add drama to your arrangement.  Fillers should be soft, billowy plants that will not object to being crowded and will weave through the centerpiece.  Spillers are trailing plants to blur the sharp edges of the container.  I find this design strategy results in a rich, full display.  I also feel less is more so I never use more than three or four different kinds of plants in one single container.

As you can see in this patio container I have the following plant elements:

Thriller – Millet "Purple Majesty"
Filler –  Petunia "Sanguna Lavender Vein" 
Spiller – Verbena "Lanai Blue Denim"



I have followed the same principle on the second container. 



This pot sits on the step next to my gazebo and consists of the following plants:

Thriller – Spike
Fillers – Heliotrope "Marine" & Petunia "Sanguna Lipstick" 
Spiller – Helichrysum "Argente' Silver"
 



Designing containers for my patio is one of my favorite forms of gardening.  While most of my perennial gardens remain the same year after year, a container garden allows me to have a fresh, new canvas every season with a variety of colors.

Happy Gardening!

12 comments:

Life Full of Sunflowers said...

Donna, these are so beautiful.

Thank you for sharing your flower garden with us.

Janet

Diane L said...

They are stunning Donna,TFS!

KarinsArtScrap said...

your flowers are looking fabulous donna.

greetings karin

Jennipher said...

Donna, you must have a serious green thumb. This potted creation is gorgeous.

Becky said...

Beautiful colors Donna, you really have a green thumb.

Rhonda Langley said...

You do have an artistic eye for everything, including plants!

Pam~ said...

Wow, wow ... not one green thumb but definitely two! Gorgeous plants! My hubby would love to wander through your yard. He loves plants and working in the yard.

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

Hi Donna
I love the purples together. A nice thing about containers too is that they're portable and can be put in a bare spot in the garden and changed for the seasons.
Judith

gale said...

Thank you thank you thank you!! How did you know I needed this post right now. I have petunias in a hanging pot and wanted to add a little something in between them. This is perfect!!

Connie B. said...

So beautiful.. I do container gardening, too... 'cause we live in a condo.. Love yours..

Polished Moxie said...

Beautiful potted flowers. I've never heard of the thriller, filler, and spiller recipe but it makes absolute sense. I'll have to give it a try with a couple of my larger plants.

Carrie Sampsel said...

Donna beautiful pots!! In fact they remind me to much of my own. lol Mine is filled with a tall grass in the center(which I can't remember what it's called), purple African Daisies and Black Eyed Susan Vines. I follow the same guidelines when planting pots. I will have to post a picture of them. TFS