i love you, pot

'container gardening' as the professionals refer to it, is something that i love love love.

i think it's more fun and exciting than planting out an entire yard because it's smaller and more cost effective- and it's perfect if you are scared of commitment because if it doesn't work- you can just start again! now only if dating was as easy as container gardening...lol.

container gardening gives you creative carte blanche. you decide what you're planting, what you're planting in, and how you're going to plant everything together.

look through gardening books and magazines or the garden design website www.gardendesign.com- and start jotting down the names of plants you like. look for things that have color, texture and various heights and sizes.

determine what kind of pot you want. something modern, something rustic, a found object perhaps? (think old bath tubs, or wash basins, your old wooden salad bowl, an empty drawer) and get creative.

plant something large, medium and small and dont' be afraid to use three different plants. try to achieve height and contrast by picking plants that have large and little leaves, or plants that vary in color. color contrast is a great way to bring life to your planter and personalize it.

your planter is something that can be changed every season- or when things may start to look a little unhappy. freshening up a container garden is something that is inexpensive and again, allows you to get creative and even daring. eyeing a vibrant plant you see at the nursery? as long as you love it- try it. buy it and add it to your container garden. no harm done...and at least it's a very low financial risk to take for the sake of natural bliss!

here are my picks and suggestions.

for color/contrast:
- sweet potato vine (lime green)
- coleus (purple)
- cordylines (reds, oranges)

- canna lilies

for height:

- sansevieria

- cat palm

- white bird of paradise

- fan palms

- reed palms

- fish tail palm

- banana palm

- fiddle leaf fig

- heliconia

- alocacia

for texture:

- succulents

- agave (some variations not recommended if you have small children- they have very pointy and sharp ends)

- liriope

- mondo grass

- sedum

- foxtail fern

- asparagus fern

- wart fern

have fun with your pot!