Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Gardening is a Ball

It is showering outside which is good for the plants, and I am doing OK


There are so many blogs that are instructional and post recipes, crafts, medical advice, travel information and the like.  I am really not qualified to do any of the above.  I am a so-so cook and by that I mean, "so, that was SURPRISINGLY good", or "so, maybe we should dump this meal and go out to eat.  My hands don't work as well as before so crafts that include any pointy objects or tools are to be avoided as I wish to stay away from emergency rooms as much as possible.  My traveling is limited and my only advice about that would be to take a sleeping pill or a stiff drink as soon as you get on a plane.   Flying is very uncomfortable.  I would enjoy globe trotting so much more if Scotty could only beam me up.

No, I can't sing and I can't dance and my hula hoop days are behind me.  However, I do have lovely gardens.   I know I over-plant and sometimes my enthusiasm for new found species can get the best of me, but all in all, I do have fun.

















A few years ago, I noticed that the large plants which hang from posts in our local town had a variety and abundance of flowers coming out from all sides.   I investigated and saw that holes were made on the sides and bottom of the pots, and plants inserted here, there and everywhere.  I then saw an article in a magazine showing how to do this.  I have been making them now for about three years.  The ones that turn out well are splendid, and the ones that don't meet expectations, are still quite beautiful.

The following is my first (and probably last) DIY How To:


















Step 1:  Buy 2 coconut moss lined hanging planters. Remove the chain from the planter that you will use on top. You will only need the chains attached to the bottom pot.  With a Sharpie pen, mark an X in all the spots where you want to place a plant. Either cut holes or cut out an X and pull sides out.   I suggest you stagger these holes, one high, one low (although I did not do this on one of the containers).  I also cut out the very top circle and the bottom for plants that I will insert at the end of the process.

















Step 2:  Choose the plants you wish to use.  Smaller ones from market packs work the best. Push them through the holes you have cut out. You want the holes big enough so the plants have room to grow.  However, do not make them too large or flowers will fall out.  Add soil, and include some Soil Moist and fertilizer. Fill completely, pushing down hard so the dirt is tight in each planter.  Thoroughly water and again pat down.  Make sure dirt comes to top edges.















Step 3: Get a large piece of cardboard and lay over the planter that will go on top.

















Step 4: Holding cardboard tightly, turn planter over and set on top of bottom pot.  Slowly, pull away the cardboard. 

















Step 5:  Wire planters together.

















Step 6:  Shoo away any wandering nosey neighbors.  They will sit on the cardboard and eat you out of house and home.



















Step 7:  Adjust all the plants and put in flowers on the top hole.  Make sure your chain is not in the way and breaking any foliage.



















Step 8:  Hang in an area where all sides can get light and is not against a tree or wall.  Place your reserved plant in bottom hole.

All kinds of plants can be used and mixing types can make a beautiful display.  The one I am showing is just Impatiens, but it is a nice spreading plant and you can get a wow effect just sticking with one species in a few colors.

and Viola, in about 6 weeks, you will have something like this.
Minus my granddaughter Poppy

                                       
















And granddaughter Sophie


             
                                               





































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37 comments:

  1. That's fabulous Arleen! I've never seen one like it. Beautiful! Now I wonder if I can do that on my front porch...

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    1. Laura, once you have your holes cut out, the rest of the process should take less than an hour. It is not hard, and worth the effort. You will get many compliments if you do it.

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  2. Really pretty. I'd never heard of this before, but love it! Thanks for the great idea.

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  3. Very clever. Unfortunately my skills with flowers stretch as far as 'right-way-up' pots (if I'm lucky).

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  4. Arleen that looks wonderful - if I remember when spring comes around I will try it.

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  5. Hello Arleen:
    We do so agree that hanging baskets where the plants are allowed to grow through the sides can bring about quite spectacular results, as is the case of the magnificent one which you show. Very much worth all that little bit extra effort.

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    1. I am hoping that the planters that I do this year will be as successful as the my previous ones.

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  6. That looks just incredible. I have just dragged my smaller portion down to have a look and he agrees that it 'looks amazing'. I don't think my fingers are up to it, but his are. When spring comes our way again I will certainly keep this in mind.
    Thank you. Mega heaps.

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    1. I have to get the help of my hubby to wire it together because I am having trouble with my hands also.

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  7. Brilliant!! I love it and your beautiful grand daughters too :)

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  8. Lovely. Thanks for investigating and working it out. Most of us probably can supply grandaughters.

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  9. So beautiful! Thank you for sharing how to do it. Always love seeing DIY projects. Are you on Pinterest yet? :-) Have a wonderful day!

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  10. Wow..first off, I love your new header photo. That is just gorgeous. Second...you are a very talented gardener. Third...you grew a couple of beautiful little grand children.

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    1. Thank you Delores. The picture is from a purple bush I have in my front yard. The flowers are very small and only last about a week, but it is oh, so pretty then.
      Those are my California grandchildren who had come for a visit.

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  11. Are you sure the granddaughters can't be included? :) What sweeties. Your garden is so beautiful and I love the hangy basket! Very clever, Mrs Green Thumb. We have limited space but I'm thinking about this for under the porch now... hmmmm.

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    1. Those coconut moss planters come in small sizes also and make a beautiful display also. I do these in small, medium and large containers.

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  12. I've not seen any planters like that before, but they are absolutely gorgeous! (And don't disparage your gardening talents! People with green thumbs and imagination make the world a more beautiful place.)

    There was an article in the paper recently about impatiens. Said there's some kind of a widespread disease with them that may not be readily apparent until well after you plant them, and that disease ends up ruining your garden area for years to come. (Bummer, huh?) So I decided not to risk putting any in my garden this year. But a planter like you've got? It'd work, huh? If the plants are sick, they'll only ruin the planter, and not a whole garden plot. Cool.

    Thanks for the instructions. (Oh yeah, you're an awesome blogger, too. Don't forget THAT! Plus, you grow beautiful grandchildren.)

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    1. Oh no, not Impatiens; I use so many different varieties of them in my gardens - regular, sun, New Guinea, and African as they are so spectacular. I do use them mostly in pots though as the roots of bushes and trees have taken over most of my ground planting area. Thanks for letting me know this.

      - And thanks for the compliments.

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  13. Love the hanging planter, but those two little grand-daughters are pretty cute as well. I may have to try doing that in my spare time. Bonnie

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  14. I have never seen a hanging planter like this – so beautiful and ingenious. We have many pine trees in our backyard so I only plant in pots. We have impatiens pots in front of the kitchen window. I enjoy looking at their bright colors. We were in New Orleans last week – the jasmine was in bloom – I wish I had some here, as well as the gardenias. I am behind reading blogs but eventually I get caught up. I read your past posts. Thanks for coming to my blog.

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  15. You constantly amaze and dazzle!

    With the step-by-step photos, I may make it all happen!

    The crowning touches were your granddaughters. They are precious.

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  16. I never knew how that happened. thank you!!!

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  17. I LOVE how you took your granddaughters pictures - very clever - and your flower baskets - amazing. You may not be able to do some things that others do (me neither) - but honey you have some gifts!
    sandie

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  18. I like how the girls appear to have flower afros. :-)

    Pearl

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  19. The girls love being a part of your blog. Thank you to everyone for the nice comments about the grandaughters!

    Mom - you are an AMAZING gardener and you have passed your love of flowers to all of your children! We all love gardening and I am sure it is because of you. I love you!

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  20. I am not a flower person, but this really is a great idea and I am VERY tempted to try it!

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  21. Great idea! Your granddaughters look so cute, the pictures really made me smile.

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  22. I popped over from Sandy's post on her sleep study. I'm so glad I did. Your first tutorial was very instructive. I will try this. Thanks!

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  23. Hi......You have a great talent you don't seem to see...you have a great way with words...I crack up everytime I read your blog...you are so funny...the pics of the girls were great...a frost got a lot of my lillies this year...I hope we get no more...I started buying yesterday and went "nuts" again...won't plant for at least another 10 days...hopefully!!! Happy Spring!!

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