Outdoor Wednesday and a Porch and Patio Party

I am so glad to be back at my computer after a whirlwind couple of weeks with our daughter's wedding. In fact, I am so happy that I am going to link this to Susan's Outdoor Wednesday and to Barb's Porch and Patio Party. This is my first time to contribute to both. You can visit Susan at http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/. Barb is having her Porch and Patio Party at http://gritsglamour.blogspot.com/. I hope you'll take time to visit them both!

I was really late getting my bedding plants in this year. Later than usual cool weather, frequent trips out of town, and wedding plans got in my way. The one thing I could not let slide was planting my pots! I love pot gardening! It is such an easy way to incorporate lots of different colors and textures into your outdoor living space. Another thing I love is the wide variety of plants and flowers it allows me. Most of my beds are shady, but I can move pots around to accomodate the needs of almost any plant. Another advantage is that I can try out new plants without as much labor or financial investment as flower beds require.

This is a very large pot filled each year with a tree form hibiscus. Unfortunately, hibiscus will not live year-round here. They are too big to move, so I am forced to replace it each year. I do keep variegated monkey grass (lariope) in year-round as a grassy backdrop and the variegated trailing ivy lives from season to season. I experimented this year for the first time with angelonia. That is the blueish purple plant as the base of the hibiscus. It is surrounded by pink and green polka dots and the green and white polka dots. Of course, these do not bloom, but the foliage makes a colorful and impressive show. Hot pink impatiens and dark leaf begonias with white blooms are also tucked in. With pots, I think the more, the better! I always add a trailing plant and sweet potato vine with either the green or dark leaf does well. Be careful; it will trail all over your patio or deck!

You may remember my 10 dollar flower boxes from Big Lots. The geraniums, verbena and impatiens have really taken off. I do have to make sure the impatiens gets enough water since this usually gets a lot of sun.

In the middle of all the wedding plans, Beloved decided we should completely "redo" the deck furniture. I have plans to show all of it to you later, but I wanted you to see this pot of caladiums. I love the red stripes of the leaves with my new cushions!

This wicker chair has been more colors than I care to remember---ahhh, the magic of spray paint! A good friend found this cute red polka dot pot and thought it was perfect for my deck. I think so too!

Finally, I just had to show you the newest member of our family and he IS outdoors! This is Charlie. Charlie, a springer spaniel is a gift for our youngest son from his girlfriend. Tomorrow "the baby" will be 23!! Charlie will not live with us, but I am sure he will be a frequent visitor.

Now head on over to visit Susan at A Southern Daydreamer and Barb at Grits and Glamour! I know there is a lot more to see!