Awesome, Evelyn, can't wait to see them!

I can't wait to see the photos Evelyn.
I am taking my camera to church with me this morning, as a reminder to take a photo of the orange and blue house.

Really nicely done. Have you had any experience with painting metal containers? I'm using little metal watering cans for tiny succulent gardens and, naturally, after a while a bit of rust will show. I'm wondering if painting them will prevent that.

Kim

<div id="LCS_8E9E3331_D360_4f87_8803_52DE43566502_communicationDiv"></div>


<div id="LCS_8E9E3331_D360_4f87_8803_52DE43566502_communicationDiv"></div>

I use a protective and rust inhibiting spray called Rustoleum on my metal containers. Any surface with rust needs to be sanded or wire brushed away before spraying.

Neal,

Submit your idea, info and pics for a great garden tip!

Marilyn

Kim, the only metal containers I've painter were the wheelbarrows, and they've held up well. I sanded them and used Rustolium spray paint.

gemini_sage said:The color scheme in my back yard and deck area is "fire colors", reds, oranges, and yellows. There I like the whimsical pop of some lime green too.

Neal,

Now that I have painted so many purple pots, I am anxious to paint the rest of them. IMHO, I think that your sunset colors would really stand out in purple pots as well. There are so MANY clay pots and faux clay, etc...that the pot color is common, so I do not think that the orange would be that noticable.

I did mix up some of those colors, myself, and then when I applied the paint to some test boards, they just looked like the color of wood. I had some pretty colors, too, but they just did not sing to me as the colors of purple did....

Those lime green containers do have a nice contrast.

This year I will be using some purple containers with the sunset colors- great minds think alike! Now that the house is purple, I like the idea of bringing that into the mix. And I do love orange and yellow with purple!

I finally got the photo of the orange house. I really do love these colors, just not brave enough to do something like this. I so love your purple house and this orange house, how wonderful it would be if I was brave enough to do something this bold. Wonder what colors I would choose?
I love the blue and white trim with the orange. As you can see their landscaping is very subdued.

OMG! that's blinding! As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Neal's purple house might be unusual but looks pretty to me. But that garish, bright orange? Butt ugly!

(Years ago we made fun of a neighbor who painted the shutters on his brown house that same orange).

Karen

The first couple years we lived here I was shocked every time I saw it. For some reason I now love it every time I go by there. It makes me smile.

Wow! That is an intense shade of orange! I don't necessarily dislike the colors themselves, but it is some really large expanses of that bright orange. I think if the color was broken up with some contrast I'd like it more. I love the Victorian painted ladies in San Francisco, where they often use several bright colors, but not a large expanse of any one of them. My suggestion to those homeowners would be to add yellow shudders and lighter orange window boxes, and then of course, lots of flowers.

Thanks for posting the pic Lynn!

I agree that flowers (would have to be careful of what colors) would soften the affect of such a large expanse of orange. Over the last 10 years the foundation plantings are finally getting some size to them which does somewhat soften the look.
I saw it the first time in 2000, and every year since then it looks like it has just been painted. I would think that color would have faded in 14 years.

Around here I sometimes see homes in white/royal blue, as we have some major UK Wildcat fans. At first I wondered if there is a sports team that inspired the orange and blue, LOL.

That would be orange and black for OSU's colors.

gemini_sage said:we have some major UK Wildcat fans

Around here in the northern KY area we do too. Probably the whole state of KY.

Reviving this thread to give a progress report. I've been using the painted containers for 2 years now, some only for annuals during the growing season and most with plants that come inside for winter. The clay pots have held up beautifully! Aside from a couple of nicks from pots clanging together, they're showing no signs of peeling or fading. Some of the plastic pots started peeling a bit this year, but a few still look good.

Great news for you, Neal, and good information for the rest of us to have.

That is an encouraging report Neil. I might give that a try this coming new year.