Sunday, April 5, 2009

Met Monday and Digging in the Dirt


I am moving slowly into Susan's Metamorphosis Monday...just getting my feet wet a little bit. Or in this case, my hands dirty. Okay, so I'm not digging in dirt. I'm digging in potting soil, but oh it makes me so happy! It's still a little early for bedding plants at my house. My dad always told me never to plant before Good Friday. Good girl that I am, I listen and rarely plant before. It turns out, according to Dave the weatherman, we are having one (hopefully!) last cold snap tonight. But I just couldn't wait. Those bedding plants are like sirens calling me. So, I compromised. I decided to redo my window boxes. They were a ragged, empty, pitiful sight While I was at Big Lots, I spotted these heavy metal window boxes with a liner for only $10!--a steal! So off to my local hardware. It's a small local one and usually the first to have great plants--not so practical and budget-friendly for buying in bulk, but just right for the "digging-in-the-dirt" fix I needed. I've experimented over the years with different plants and slowly have come up with good combinations that work well together and in this spot. Today I planted red geraniums, white and purple verbena, and pink impatiens. I love the mixture of colors, textures and heighths. I added some ivy in one corner and will probably add trailing miniature petunias on the other side when I find them.






One more little thing I wanted to show you. This is a hellebores, commonly called a Lenten rose because of the time of year it blooms. Although mine is green, others bloom pink, mauve, and yellow. Another variety, the Christmas rose, blooms in December. Our hostess Susan is using power tools! Join her now at http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ and see what she and every one else is up to for Met Monday!

36 comments:

  1. Beautiful! I can't wait for some digging in the dirt.
    ~Michelle

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  2. Simply beautiful!

    We have freeze warnings tonight. Our flowers are blooming and our Cleveland Pear trees are in bloom!!

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  3. Beautiful flowers...I love Lenten roses and always see them on garden tours. I've been playing in the dirt already, too...just a few pots that I can bring in when the temps dip into the love 30s and upper 20s tomorrow night. I've always heard not to plant until after April 15th here in Atlanta...usually if I follow that, I'm ok. But it sure is hard with all the plants coming into the garden centers this time of year. Thanks for sharing you combination for you window boxes...that was a great price from Big Lots! Susan

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  4. I love geraniums. I have pots of them outside my kitchen window. They make me smile when I'm eating breakfast. Thanks for sharing.

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  5. Love your window boxes. I started to buy some bedding plants on Saturday, but I didn't see what I wanted at Lowe's. Glad I waited, since it's going to be close to freezing tonight and tomorrow night.

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  6. Those are a great deal!
    I just saw them at Lowes for much higher.

    Great job on it. It's gorgeous! :)

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  7. I love the color combo Susan, and that the planter looks so full and lush right now!

    Great job! You really do have the growing season bug!! ;-)

    xoxo
    Jane
    P.S. Our rule of thumb in the Midwest is never plant until after Mother's Day, so I still have awhile to dream!! :-)

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  8. A great transformation. Here on the prairie, it's April 15. And frost is due tonight!

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  9. What beautiful window boxes. We can't plant until mid-May, Mother's day week, so I'll have to wait. BUT, I am going to check out our local little hardware store.

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  10. Looks just wonderful, I will have to wait until May! Cindy

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  11. Lovely flowers, I also love the planting boxes, Isn't Big Lot's great? Happy Met Monday. Mary from Boogieboard Cottage

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  12. I saw that box at Big Lots....now I think I'd better rush back and get one or two! So pretty! Linda

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  13. Morning Susan and welcome to Met Monday! I love the fact you got your tiny hands dirty! The flowers you bought look glorious in your new planter.
    Be a sweetie
    Shelia :)

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  14. I need to go to Big Lots because that box is a DEAL. I consider this an outside gadget/gizmo. I had no idea about Lenten Roses. I was at Lowes yesterday and planted some Hosta Lilies and begonia and a few other plants. Now they are saying it is going to drop in temps so I hope they survive the next two days. When I lived in NY the rule was not to plant before Mothers Day. Now that I live in the south I usually plant before it gets so hot outside that I feel like I am going to melt in my own garden:)
    Joyce

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  15. Your flowers are so pretty. I love the window boxes. I'll have to make a run to Big Lots.

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  16. That is a beautiful and colorful transformation! Black iron is so timeless... Great job! Happy Monday!

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  17. I love the colours & flowers you selected for your window box :-) And the box itself is nice too!!

    Impatiens are my favourite annual -- they're pretty much maintenance free and come in so many pretty colours :-)

    You're lucky you can plant by Good Friday -- we have to wait till the end of May here.

    Thanks for you kind comments on my virtual kitchen post :-) Yep, my mind really is always moving at a mile a minute!! Which can make it hard to fall asleep!! ;-)

    Kelly @ DesignTies

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  18. Ooh, I need to go to Big Lots and check out their garden supplies. Beautiful flower combination!

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  19. Susan.. feel free to drop by French Lique and garden till your heart's content... anytime...

    beautiful job! Dixie

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  20. Hey this turned out wonderful! We can't plant till after mother's day. We live in the mountains and always get snow till the end of May. I am sooo ready for flower boxes and fun spring flowers. Love your transformation. It turned out great. Hope you do more posts!
    Blessings,
    Debbie

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  21. I can't wait to get my hands dirty myself! I also always listened to my Daddy, and up here in New York he told me never to plant before Mother's Day. His gardens were always beautiful...so I listened. Geraniums were always one of his favorites. Yours look gorgeous! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment on my post. I truly appriciate it.

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  22. Hi Susan...

    So glad that you stopped by for a visit, my friend! It's always such a pleasure to have you and thank you for all of your sweet comments! Hmmm...now you have me curious...what room are you painting? Can't wait to see it! Sending you my best wishes on that project...have lots of fun!!!

    Well my friend, your window box turned out beautifully!!! And you're absolutely right about all of those beautiful splashes of color being so pretty together!!! You know, every time I see a window box I think of Europe! When we were over there 3 yrs. ago, there were window/flower boxes in nearly every window! They're just beautiful and I don't even have one...I may have to remedy that!!!

    Happy Met Monday!
    Warmest wishes,
    Chari

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  23. It was good to find your blog. Thanks for visiting mine.
    Wendy

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  24. They turned out beautiful!It's amazing what small plants can do to the outside of a house.Thanks for stopping by!

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  25. Now you've done it. I'm now have to go to Big Lots to see if I can score some of those fabulous planters. Love the flowers.

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  26. I just love window boxes! They're on my "list" - perhaps one day. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

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  27. I can hardly wait to dig in the dirt here! Your plants are so pretty. We had a hint of spring last week, then lots of rain, and then last night several inches of snow, YUCK. Oh well, soon enough. Thanks for the pretty pics.

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  28. Oh, I love windowboxes! You picked out really pretty plants. I can't wait to plant things, here in the Northeast we are supposed to wait for Mothers Day but I usually push my luck. Can't resist those pretty colors!

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  29. Window boxes are very pretty. I know it will only get better and better as the flowers fill in. Good job. Thanks for sharing.

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  30. love window boxes and yours is ecspecially beautiful, love the colors
    hugs
    janet

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  31. Oh how lucky you are to be able to plant already. Your planter boxes are gorgeous!!! Our "safe" planting time is Mother's Day!

    I can't wait. On Sunday we did some more spring cleanup and weeding, and got random renegade vines out of the grape arbor, but no planting yet. Just some pansies in a basket by the side door.

    Lovely post -- makes me want to PLANT THINGS!
    Cass
    PS -- thanks for visiting That Old House and reading about my collection of Frenchmen named Pierre! Oh what a weekend THAT was! And I agree -- every girl needs her own set of Three Pierres. :-)

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  32. This is SO BEAUTIFUL! It makes me long for spring so desperately! I thought it was here, and then we got Snow tonight! What's that all about!!?!?!? Ugh! Maybe in May!

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  33. What a great deal on your window boxes and they look so pretty all fancied up!

    I love digging in the dirt too! I can't wait until I have some time to go out and get my hands dirty!

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  34. Hi susan!!
    Thank you so much for your lovely comments!!! I love your blog site.
    Yes, we have sip n see's here too!!! I am hoping to have a joint one with two babies, one born Valentine's Day and the other on the way May 9th!!
    Have a wonderful day!
    Sara

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  35. Susan,
    I live in snow country and I am itching to dig in the dirt too! I like the combinations of flowers you are using it is a striking combination. This year I am planning on buying a window box for under my garage window. You are lucky because it looks like you have a ledge wide enough for your box to sit on. ~Cathy~

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  36. Susan, how beautiful! I love your choices of colorful flowers to plant in your windowbox, so colorful and cheerful.

    I've admired Lenten roses for a long time, but I've never grown any ~ I better look into that!

    Thank you for sharing a wonderful and inspiring post, once again! xo~m

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