Becky, I'm right there with you on the exorbitant price of large containers!! Love the idea of recycling and your projects turned out great, I love how they look!

Lin - Thanks so much!
Here is a recent photo of the side yard pond with the Brugmansia and Hostas planted in it:

It's looking great and the Spider plants will surely hide the frame quickly!

What a clever idea Becky! Great use of those ponds, and they're beautifully planted!

I'm curious...do hostas do well for you? I checked the map and though you're on the other coast of FL, you're not very far north of me...I've tried hostas a few times and while they hang on for a year or two before dying, they certainly do not thrive.

Patty - Thank you.

I've only had these hostas for 3 years, but they have gotten bigger each year. One of them is finally going to bloom. I have had mine in containers because I was concerned that the root knot nematodes would kill them if I put them directly in the ground. So far, they seem to be very happy planted next to the Brugmansias in the repurposed pond. I got the hostas as cheap bagged roots from Walmart a few years ago. I think they were 3 for $5.00. They have done well for me. I also have this pond garden on the west side of my house partially under an older oak tree, so this area gets mostly shade with some afternoon filtered sunlight. I do have to make sure I give it a good watering once or twice a week during the heat of summer. So far they are thriving.

Thanks for your kind compliment.

You're welcome! I love the idea!

Thanks for the hosta info. Sounds like the only difference between what you are doing and what I tried, was that mine were getting morning filtered sunlight. Glad yours are doing well! I may decide to try again, sooner or later...

When I buy "cheap" plants, I don't mind if they are a species that may or may not do well in my area. I will say though that I've had pretty good success with some plants that are not supposed to do well in Central Florida, so it's worth trying them if it is a plant you really like. I have loved Hostas but was not going to pay top dollar for them knowing that they may not survive and thrive here. They did great in containers! This very large pond container was perfect to transplant them to. Brugmansias also find the root knot nematodes a problem, so using the pond to plant both plant species has so far worked out well, much to my delight.