I was very impatient to fill my clay chimney tiles with plants, but I made myself wait until after Mother's Day, like a good girl. Especially since it has been cold, rainy and threatening frost right up until the Monday after. Since the chimney tiles are in the butterfly and hummingbird garden...well, one of the butterfly and hummingbird gardens, I decided to buy plants for the containers that would attract both hummingbirds and butterflies. In the clay tiles I planted my beloved lantana, verbena, Calibrachoa or Superbells, and the purple wave petunias that I grew from seed.
Lantana is one of my favorite plants for attracting butterflies to the garden. Last year I bought five plants and put them in the ground. It was a cool and rainy summer and they never bloomed. It was a great disappointment to me. This year I decided to put them in containers so hopefully, even if it is cool, there will be a better chance for blooms.
I spent a lot of time outside today and I have seen more butterflies today than I saw all of last summer! I even saw a tiger swallowtail! Most of the butterflies were flitting around so fast that I couldn't even tell what they were. I didn't see a single one of them land in my garden. I think they were on a mission, like trying not to get eaten by the mama birds!
I am loving this bright turquoise ladder in the yard. As I was contemplating what to plant that would climb up this unique trellis, I noticed that something was already growing. I believe this is the morning glory that I planted last year to climb up the diseased tree before we chopped it down. It was so cool and rainy that the seeds never germinated. I can't remember what color I planted, knowing me, it was probably pink or purple. I wish I had saved the seed package.
I hope everyone has a lovely weekend! I'm hoping it will dry out and be warm enough for me to do some painting and more planting!
16 comments:
Everything looks so pretty and the turquoise ladder is perfect! May you have many visitors this summer.
Your lucky butterflies and hummers with all of those plants for them. I really like your tiles planted up. The Ladder vignette is lovely too. Can't wait to see the vines going up it. The herb bucket is cute too.
So many wonderful containers filled with beautiful flowers ~ what butterflies could resist? :)
The chimney tiles are a great idea, they should look lovely when all the annuals spill over. The pink or purple morning glories (yes, I think you are correct)will pop against the blue ladder. I to am hoping for a warmer weekend, have many project on hold because of the cool rainy days. Take care:)
Your garden looks happy and content and I love the ladder and pot to match!
I love your chimney tile containers. What a smart idea! I also love your bright ladder, another smart idea.
Your lovely blue ladder will bring in the Hummingbirds all on their own to see what you have there. Great idea to do in containers. You can always move them about. Have a great weekend. Valerie
LOVE the blue ladder! An outstanding idea, Robin. Good on you getting your planting done, sprucing up the place and getting ready for butterfly season. I'm a bonefide lantana lover, too!
Another breathtaking view of your garden and some spiffy ideas for planters. I love lantana, its the only plant that I can grow without killing it. What else do you have in mind for your garden...hum?? Cant wait to see...
I did see where someone used those double hole cinder-blocks for plantes. I guess I have not send my hubby to the hardware store for some chimney tiles.
Maybe the morning glory will be a lovely shade of pink or purple, and grow up the ladder. I also think Black-eyed Susan vine would stand out beautifully. I have several growing now. I love that ladder! I need to teach myself to identify the butterflies, and not just the birds.
Brenda
Love your container garden! A morning glory would look great twining around the ladder.
Have a good weekend,
Carolyn
I think planting the lantanas in containers will help because they don't like a lot of water. Also, don't fertilize them at all - they like poor soil. Fertilizer makes the leaves grow a lot but no blooms. I have had some planted in the ground here for 8 or 9 years and they bloom great unless it is rainy. They freeze to the ground but come back every year.
I love your containers Robin, those chimney tiles are great, very unusual. I planted some Lantana "White Gold" a few weeks ago. They supposed stay rather compact, instead of spreading all over the place like regular lantana. Since space is at a premium in my garden, I thought I'd give them a try. They're tiny still, but they already starting blooming!
Oh, I am in love with that ladder! The colour is perfect. I think I would have to smile everytime I saw it. :)
Your chimney tile planters look fantastic, and I bet the butterflies and bees will like them too! The turquoise ladder is a perfect accent.
Fabulous post! You've inspired me!
I'm going to try to do some "container gardening for butterflies". I hope it works. Glad you are seeing some ....I'm seeing lots but not the same type I saw last year - lots of new ones to me - or maybe I'm just looking more closely!
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