Spring/Summer Windowboxes

[rubyslippers]

I just planted my window-boxes for late spring & summer. I am covered in grime. I also inhaled a little too much pollen. With that said, I am proud of myself for trying something different this spring.

My house faces North and the window boxes range from partial to full shade and are dappled at various points during the day and season. Last year, I planted candy-cane colored double impatiens, but they looked a little silly in the fall and were a little to "hot-pink" for my cool-toned house.

This year, I planted white impatiens dominantly, with lavender/blue lobella on the edges. Then in the back of each window-box I planted some light pink fuschia. Everything looks scraggly right now because the plants need to fill-in and grow.

Hopefully some water, sunshine, and fertilizer will have them happy in no time!

Happy Planting!

[memmey]

Don't forget the fish emulsion. It makes the soil really rich , it is way way better that Miracle grow. Miracle grow feeds the plant but not the soil.
I bet they are gonna be so pretty.:)

[mac78]

Sounds very pretty.

And what is fish emulsion? Never heard of it.

[vintage girl]

Oh they sound beautiful. Marie, if you ever smell fish emulsion you will never ever forget it;) You can purchase it at any Lowes, or garden supply. One word of caution when using it. Do not ever, ever, ever, ever leave it laying on the ground where curious chiwi's can get into it. OH MY GOD!!! I swear I had to bathe the brats at least 6 times each. Why on earth would they want to roll in fish emulsion is beyond me. Hubs was the one using it at the time and I will never ever let him forget that:eek:;):D Than there was the time they got into the compost pile just after hubs put in some nice fresh piegon poop, than the time that he left a fly trap laying on the ground, than the time.........

[memmey]

It smells:eek:horrible but it makes the soil rich and earth wormy. Just wash your hands and I guess I have gotten where the smell doesn't bother me. BUT I wear Estee Lauder Youth Dew so probably I can't smell normal anymore. It is a "green" thing and Miracle grow isn't it is chemicals.
Vin , I love little animals they are so crazy sometimes.:p

[mac78]

So is it dead fish ground up?

My darling dogs like to go roll in "stuff" too, and then I am always the lucky one to give them a bath.

[memmey]

Yep dead fish ground up...*L*

[rubyslippers]

Okay, I kid you not, my poor window boxes are looking at a possible FROST :eek: tonight. Arrggh. I am going to try to cover them up, but YIKES!

Anyway, I will definitely give the fish emulsion a shot. Memmey, that reminder made me smile so much because it made me think of you helping me with my container garden at least two rental houses ago! Now, I planted the window boxes in my very own little yard.

Wow!

Bye,

Me

P.S. Can anyone think of another pastel-flowering-shade-loving plant? At this juncture, I may have to face the fact that I could be replanting. However, let me know what you think.

[memmey]

Water the roots, it acts like an insulator and then cover the boxes with towels are a sheet or something breatheable(sp?) not plastic. If you don't uncover before the sun hits them, the plastic will wilt them or burn them. Awwwh I wish you good luck. Frost? that's just crazy.:(

[rubyslippers]

Thanks for the advice Memmey. I did water the little guys. I also took appropriate precautions. We stayed just above freezing; needless to say, the transplant flowers did not get a very cozy welcome to the big-wild-out-of-doors. The lobella is really pretty and seems to be hanging in there. It warmed up today; there was also a little son. The white flowers are browning, but the plants and buds still look okay; so, I may pinch a few blossoms, and just hold my breath and let them grow-in a little. The wind and weather have been over-the-top around here. I know that in the grand scheme of things windowboxes are very miniscule things to worry about. With that said, I always take great comfort in planting things in the spring. I find it to be a relaxing and restorative process. So, I hate for it to go poorly right off the bat. Plus, I spend money on annuals with the anticipation they will be around until October/November. So, I hate to seem them last less than a week. Happy gardening in your neck of the woods!