How to Create an Easy Spring Flower Planter

It's finally Spring in Michigan! Hopefully it is where you are too. I'm always so anxious to plant flowers after a long, cold Winter. I put together a simple planter on our front porch -- it's been so nice looking out and seeing pretty pinks and yellows!
I always get inspiration from the planters that are professionally done. I used to love taking pictures of them in Chicago. You can see the 2011 Spring Sidewalk Planters here if you're looking for good ideas or look here for 2010 inspiration!

To fill any kind of planter, whether for Spring, Summer or Fall, I loosely use a type of "formula".  (1) You'll want large, "showy" base flowers that are the main flowers in the planter and add height to the back (2) Fillers, usually less expensive than your large base flowers, these add nice color and are small enough to fill in the open areas (3) Trailer, this will spill over the sides and fronts of your planter and add a nice effect (4) Last, you might add some very tall branches or a spike plant for a nice visual effect

For this Spring planter, since I'm in Michigan I selected hardy plants that can handle a little chill. The larger plants are Ranunculus, I love these! And a pretty pink Primrose. When you are selecting a Ranunculus plant, be sure to get one with lots of fresh buds that haven't bloomed yet. What you see is what you get with these flowers, unlike a pansy, for instance, they will not grow any new blooms so you want a plant that has plenty of new flowers left.

I used a very typical Spring flower, Pansies for the fillers and a Vinca vine for the trailer. Ivy is a great hardy option as well. I usually set most of the flowers in the pot and space them out properly to see how the design will work first, then go back and fill in with the dirt and actually plant them.

Almost done!

Last, I added in a few branches just to add some height and visual interest. Mine look a little wild, but I kind of like it! I clipped these from our yard, but if you don't have branches in a yard, you could pick up some great looking fake branches at Michaels.

So happy flowers and warmer weather are finally here! Have you guys done any Spring planting?

Blooms: Holiday Arrangement with Amaryllis & Orchids

The lobby of my office had such a gorgeous holiday flower arrangement, I had to share. I love the mix in this vase -- red amaryllis, pine branches, green leaves, tall red berries and a strand of white orchids. The orchid is a nice surprise in here, I wouldn't normally think of this tropical looking flower for a holiday arrangement, but somehow it works perfectly. So pretty and perfect for right before Christmas!

Blooms: Hydrangeas

Is there anything better than flowers straight from the garden to your table? For the 4 years that I've lived in my building we have been slowly but surely improving our landscaping. Right before I came there was a lot of work done to plant grass in the backyard (in the middle of the city I might add!), then we had trees planted and last fall my dear neighbor Ben went to town filling in with perennials. I've been lovingly fertilizing and taking care of the hydrangeas since -- and it paid off!

 Blue hued hydrangeas in a mason jar.

Happy Thursday! What a looong work week, counting down to Friday over here... Headed back to Michigan for my cousin's wedding tomorrow afternoon! Do you guys have any fun plans for the weekend?

Blooms: Tuberous Begonia

I was potting all my flowers a few weeks ago and was struck by how beautiful this begonia looked. These have always been a favorite of mine for my shady patio. They are just so darn pretty!

This is a variety of Tuberous Begonias, perfect for shade gardening. One thing to note, they need good drainage and like to dry out in between waterings. They are susceptible to rot, so you have to be careful not to over water or you will end up with limp, dead-ish plants (I learned the hard way a few years ago!)

In the garden and made in the USA

Happy Thursday! I'm so excited because it's my Friday today! We have the day off tomorrow at my office (bonus!), so I can't wait to start the long weekend. Heading back to Pure Michigan to spend the weekend with family and get in some nice beach time.

I finally got all my flowers planted this past weekend. Feels good to have that all done and I'm really happy with how everything turned out. One of the best parts of Spring/Summer is getting to pick out gorgeous flowers and plan out my patio! I'll be back with a full tour of the patio and front planters later, but here's a little sneak peek (because I know you guys are on the edge of your seats waiting, ha)

 

And for the Made in America bit, I had been wanting some garden clogs that I could leave on my deck and just slip on when I go out in the backyard. Look what I found at Target! I always love finding Made in America goods unexpectedly at regular stores, these were only $9.99 and so far I'm loving them. You can find them in the garden section at Target or by going to the Sloggers website. 

Hope everyone has a great Holiday weekend! Sounds like it's going to be a steamy one in Chicago and Michigan, bring it on!

Linking up to fellow Chicago Blogger, It All Started with Paint today! She has a great Outdoor party going on, lots of patio and gardening ideas and inspiration.

Blooms: White Hyacinth

Hope everyone's having a good weekend! My only complaint? They always go by way too fast. Trying to soak up as much of these two days as I can. I've been enjoying these flowers this weekend -- I cut some hyacinths from my yard and they were a perfect way to brighten up my living room. It doesn't happen very often, but I love being able to cut fresh flowers from my own yard, talk about cheap decorating! I put them in a bud vase on my coffee table and a little sprig for my bathroom. They smelled great and lasted pretty well inside.

Blooms: Forcing Paperwhites

It's the perfect time of year to plant your paperwhite bulbs! If you plant now you'll have some gorgeous, fragrant blooms in January. It's always so nice to have flowers blooming inside when it's the dead of Winter outside.

Via

If you've never done paperwhite bulbs before, it's really easy. Buy the bulbs at your local garden store, even Home Depot sells them. In Chicago you can also get good ones at Gethsemane Gardens. Find some waterproof containers with no drainage holes in them and add small pebbles (I like to use small, glass vases). Then stick the bulbs about halfway in and add water so that it just touches the bottom of the bulbs. Now all you have to do is check the water level periodically and wait for the flowers. I love the way paperwhites smell. They make the whole room smell good!

Here's my bulbs in progress from last year

Blooms: Yellow Gladiolus

I haven't done a Blooms post in ages! I got some great Glads at Trader Joe's last week and thought I'd share a few pictures. I know, I should have gotten them at a local farmer's market, but you can't beat the TJ's prices -- only $3.99 for a huge bunch! Whenever I get something really tall like Glads, I like to put them on my mantle, they make the living room a happy place :)

A perfect place to sit

I found this little spot near the river while walking around the city one day. What a perfect place to take a break on a gorgeous summer afternoon. Given the choice I think I'd rather sit here and read then go back to work...

One last look at Spring in the city

Before it's over I wanted to post a few pictures I took of Spring in bloom all around the city. We've quickly and suddenly moved on to Summer, it was 90 over the weekend -- but here is one last look at the first gorgeous blooms of Spring. Which after a long Winter, are always so welcome.

I love the bright yellow of Forsythia bushes!

And a few that aren't quite from the city -- Grape Hyacinths my sister cut. Isn't the purple stunning? The variations on each bloom look like a paint chip card.