Wow, you've been busy planting and caring.

How much time does it take you to water all of them once the summer heat arrives?
Do you use the water crystals in the potting soil?
Your containers always look so lush and healthy when they fill out.

I got smart a few years ago and use the Moisture controle mix.
I moved some of the garden containers closer to the house and deck so I wouldnt need to completely unwind and drag the hose so far.
It takes about half an hour.

just a few neat pix
Kalenchoe flapjack group





Serbian Bellflower Blue Waterfalls

Wow, just look at that kalanchoe. Do you take it indoors for the winter?
Love the Bellflower.

Yes it has quadrupled in size since last spring.DD will have to carry it in for the winter.
She loves it so I found a "pup" on the stem and started a new plant for her.

Does she keep it under lights during the winter. It is so healthy and beautiful. I got one this year, but I have been worried about how to care for it come winter. Is your in full sun for summer?

Lynn: If you mean flapjack.It sits in a large south window,very little water all winter and when March comes it starts to grow.It looses the red but that comes back after a few days on the deck in late May,

So you do have it in full sun during it's time outside? I am so determined to keep this plant healthy.

Full sun until 1 PM.

I will keep that in mind when placing mine. Thank you Jo Ann.

Just today.really filling in

Jo Ann what are you doing with your bulbs in the winter? I am doing a few perennial pots and I added some lily bulbs to the pots. I am trying to cut down on all the annuals I have to buy.

I do have one pot that is all bulbs that I have had for 8 years but I have never added anything else in that pot. I never thought of adding coleus to the pots. That is a good idea. I would like to put the LA lilies and Asiatic in the pots on the patio with the coleus. I could not use the Oriental because the fragrance would be to strong to be that close to the seating.

I had asiatics in 2 of the containers.They poop out after a couple of years.
My thinking for you is to separately pot the some of the asiaticsand LA's you want to and Put asiatics in containers with coleus.
If I had 8 year buildup of bulbs in a container I would do that.
I often pot a lily and move it around the garden to find a spot for it permanently.
I have used coleus for years,I also used to take cuttings for over winter in the house.I'm just not up to the fuss anymore.
We are in the same zone.so I think your lilies in large containers should over winter OK.I would keep the small potted ones in the garage or someplace where they cant retain moisture,that will rot bulbs.
I have not put any lily other than asiatics in planters just because I never had a proper place for them..
I agree about the orientals,mine are just as happy in the garden.

Front door planters
Bishop Llandaff

Wow Jo Ann I just found this post! Your deck garden is sooo beautiful as well as your cottage garden of course. I'm curious about the baskets, grandma has a lot of them. Do they last long without rotting or do you do anything special so they won't rot at all?

This is a bit grim but DD's friend Karen is a mortician and when there is a huge funeral she brings arrangments.Many are in baskets like these.We choose the baskets that are deepest.DD lines them with newspaper that also extends a bit up the sides,fill with potting mix and plants.We know there will be more funerals so we dont keep the baskets.Soil goes onto permanent planters.

I see....that is such a beautiful way of bringing live arrangements though.

Jo Ann it amazes me how fast your containers fill in, and every one is filled with color.
I really like the idea of using the large baskets as temporary containers. I especially love these two baskets.

ge1836 said:J

Thanks Lynn.I like the bright yellow greens with deep colors.