We had ONE mild weekend here in Boston and that’s all it took to get me thinking of Spring. I went browsing through my photos looking at my window boxes from previous years and reviewing my notes on each plant (what it was, how it grew or didn’t grow etc.) and then dreaming of how I might have an even better container garden this year.
Finding the right combination of window box plants can be challenging enough but I have 11 window boxes that surround my rooftop deck. They are exposed to a lot of sun and wind and last year, fairly steady downpours of rain.
In the past I’ve chosen annuals such as snapdragons, geraniums, zinnias, heliotrope, miniature roses, gerbera daisies, cosmos, pinks, petunias, violets etc. I’ve played around with different color combinations like orange and purple, pink and white, blue and yellow — just to keep it fresh.
I also keep a few potted plants on the deck and last year a hibiscus and a Mandeville vine really outshone the rest. SO, I’m thinking I might go with tropical plants in the window boxes this year — they are probably more suited to my sub-climate up there.
By any chance have you filled a window box (or say 11 of them) with tropical plants? I’ d love any words of warning or advice you might have for me?
1. Joan - you definitely have a green thumb. They are all so colorful and pleasing to the eye. I’ve never done a window box but do have several hyacinth bulbs starting to bloom on my kitchen counter. You’ve inspired me to try more potted plants. Thank you for the inspiration - only a few more weeks til spring.
by Joan — 2/10/09 at 5:34 pm #
2. Hi Joan:
Great name! Thanks for stopping by and indoor container bulbs are a great idea to force early spring bloom — then you can plant them in your garden for next year too.
by Joan — 2/11/09 at 2:45 pm #
3. Beautiful Joan!!
There’s nothing more beautiful than flowers. What a gorgeous display!
As for tropical flowers in Boston…you might ask a nursery or garden professional what grows the best in your area. I bet you could grow quite a few things, just not sure what. Take some more pics. and show us what you do!
Flower Power!!!
by Cathy — 2/11/09 at 8:10 pm #
4. Thanks Cathy — I sure will seek expert advice. Of course nothing tropical will winter over but I think for a few months I can “pretend” I live somewhere nice and warm like you !!
by Joan — 2/13/09 at 1:22 pm #
5. Hi Joan,
I need some help! i have a shady spot and a really sunny spot in my garden but i keep picking the wrong plants as they die in the winter! or dont can back!
could you please suggest some i could buy (hopefully for all year round…i love growing from seeds and watching them grow, me and my son planted potatoes last year and i couldnt belive how many grew.
Your garden looks wonderful with all the wonderful colours…I hope you can help thankyou… lyndsey.
by lyndsey — 3/1/09 at 2:09 pm #
6. Hi Lindsey: Thanks for your kind comments on my window boxes. They are mostly “annuals” and don’t usually survived the winter but sometimes the roses do last a couple of seasons.
However, it sounds like you are planting your flowers in the ground so if that is the case you can get some lovely perrenials to rebloom year after year.
For your shady sections I would choose Hosta plants, Astilbe, and Bleeding Heart. All of those do very well in shaded areas.
For your sunny section of the garden you have many more choices. I find that stella d’oro daylillies (the yellow one) grow well in any soil and will bloom all season long. Coreopsis is another easy to grow flower that does well in the sun. If you want to grow from seed, try columbine seeds (I’ve had great success with these) which flower in the spring and sunflower seeds which flower in the fall. The sunflowers are an annual but you can collect their seeds and replant them the following year for a fresh new crop.
Your local nursery is also a great source of info. for which plants will grow best in your gardening zone, in your soil (take them a soil sample so they can see what you have) and with your weather conditions. Also, if garden “critters” are a problem you’ll want to choose plants that are deer/rabbit resistant. Doesn’t always work, but it helps to plant flowers they don’t much like.
All the best with putting in your garden this year and let us know how it turns out.
joan
by Joan — 3/2/09 at 11:39 am #