Flower pots are a big commitment for someone like me. Throw them together in April or May, and then my neighbors and I have to look at them until September or October. That’s a long time…and that’s slightly terrifying to a person like me. What if they’re ugly? What if I hate how they turn out? Ugh. My solution used to be to opt out and make my poor, tired husband do it. I kinda did that…for years. I water, dead-head, and make sure they don’t die, but for a long time I just couldn’t handle the pressure of creating something that needed to be beautiful.
Well, I finally got brave a few years back, and now I plant the flowers! This is a big deal. I usually stick to the same basic flowers every year, but I always try something new that I haven’t seen before. Like I said, brave!
So this is one of those things that I show ONLY to illustrate that I am still learning how to garden (and manage my time with 4 busy kids). Since our last baby came in the Fall, all I had the time/energy/mental capacity to do was stick my pots in the garage. They had been sitting under a honey locust tree, so they were full of leaves. Not so beautiful. {The upside down bottles are my plant nannies. I love them! You attach the long plastic cap to an old water bottle, fill it with water, and then stick it in the terra cotta spike (which you sink into the soil in your pot). The terra cotta (which stays moist from the bottle of water) keeps the soil moist, which keeps my plants a lot prettier on hot summer days. Moist soil also absorbs water better than dry soil, so it’s easier to water them.}
This is what the terra cotta looks like
This is my house plant nanny. Just push the terra cotta down into the soil, and you’re in business!
Back to flower pots…this is what I went home with to make my porch more beautiful! I also ended up with some veggies for my garden. I couldn’t resist!
I always like to do a pot with orange and blue flowers. Probably my favorite flower combination. Ever.
And then I did a pink pot for Princess Sassy Pants because she helped me pick out flowers and pink is her favorite color!
I tried a yellow and white combo this year.
Osteospermum is probably my all-time favorite flower to put in my pots!!
So here are my before and afters! This doesn’t look like a big deal, but I’m excessively proud of myself. Just like every year. And if you knock on my door, I will probably make you tell me how lovely my pots are. It’s amazing how much they really do add to a space. I’m not cutesie and with-it enough to put out fun decor for every holiday, so my porch looks kind of bleak and barren in the winter. I love Spring!
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