I am a little late with my posting this week. We are in the middle of high school graduation and there are 25 graduation related activities on our calendar so I am doing my best to keep up!
Since I have a gardening theme going on Mondays the last couple of weeks I thought I’d share with you one of my containers I put together this past week. (even though it is Tuesday today!)
I am really late in getting my flower pots planted this year. Mother’s Day is usually my target date but this year it just didn’t happen.
Since I seem to work well under pressure I decided that the graduation party we hosted in our garden this past Saturday would be my deadline!
The past year I have had fun trying some new plants in my pots – trying to get away from the typical geraniums, marigolds, lobelia, pansies, petunias etc. I have tried to use more perennials. Not only does it save me money in the long run because these plants come back up year after year, but I found them to be lower maintenance too. Not as much deadheading!
Last year I read an article in Fine Gardening about “Thrillers, Fillers & Spillers…a surefire recipe for planting success.” The concept is that in each of your flower pots you should have at least one of each – a thriller, a filler, and a spiller.
A thriller is an anchor plant, a centerpiece plant. They are attention getters, usually tall, upright plants. They tend to have more structure to them and become the backbone or framework for the other plants in the pot.
I select my thriller plant first. The color and texture of the thriller helps me as I choose the filler and spiller.
My thriller in this pot was a fun new grass I found – Electric Pink Cordyline Banksii. The great magenta pink color of the this plant became the theme for the pot.
Next, the Filler. A Filler is a plant that will fill in and surround the Thriller. They tend to mound and fill up the pot. I usually put 2-3 fillers in a pot. I like my pots to look full fast so I tend to cram in as many as I can – remember I’m an impatient person!
My Fillers in this pot are a great new geranium I found Crystal Palace Gem. It has a great bright lime leaf. It gets a red flower but I will cut the flower off as the red just won’t go with the colors of the pot!
I also used one of my favorite annuals – Coleus. This particular one is Peter’s Wonder and the green and magenta colors go perfect with the rest of the plants. I use to think you could only use coleus in the shade but I was wrong! Mine thrive in full sun too.
The third filler is a Purple Shamrock Hebe. It has a great lime green variegation with purple stems.
Finally – my Spiller. I only had room for one Spiller in this pot but will sometimes use a couple. The Spillers are placed toward the edge of the pot and they will drape and flow over the edge of the pot as they grow. The Spiller I used is a diascia, one of my favorite Spillers. I love the colorful, dainty little flower.
Do you have a favorite plant you like to use in your containers that is different or “not the norm”? I’d love to hear.
Happy Planting!
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Ok, this isn’t gardening related (although your pots look fabulous and I am going to adopt the rule you described) but I wanted to let you know I made the penne rustica this weekend. SO delicious! I froze half for my mother-in-law. The only bummer is I didn’t take a picture so I have to wait to post it on my blog. Also, your banana bread recipe is in the oven as we speak. My house smells divine!
I love the look of your pots… Congrats to the graduate.. We had Preschool Graduation activities last week and I remember how crazy Grad week was for us in high school.. We started Summer School today and survived. Thanks for inspiring us with each post.
Perfect timing on the pots. Each year we have been doing a little more to our yard – to make it look nicer and add more plants. It’s tough – i’d prefer to hire someone to do it so it looks beautiful immediately, but that would break the bank. This year we are adding another round to the front yard – curb appeal is always good. I bought a big cedar potter (like the whiskey barrels but made of cedar) and have been thinking of how to plant it. So now I know – thriller, filler, and spiller! Once I get it potted I’ll take a picture and share it. Although we have family in town today through Sunday, so it won’t be till next week.
Robyn,
Good luck with your planting and I can’t wait to see a picture of it when it is done! Thanks for sharing.
New to your blog and LOVE it! Just added it to my Google Reader. Love your pots. One of my favorite “spillers” is the sweet potato. It’s a beautiful bright lime green color with bold leaves.
Another pot idea that I’ve got tucked away in my memory bank for a special occasion is: pussy willows tall in the center of the pot surrounded by yellow daffodils, surrounded by yellow pansies, and vinca as a spiller. This caught my eye at our local nursery a couple years ago, and I thought it would be gorgeous for a reception or spring celebration.
Thank you for sharing your inspiring life. I love getting ideas on home and organization!
Rebecca »
Welcome Rebecca -so glad you found me. I love the sweet potato vine too – there is a darker one called “Blackie” that I use too. The pussy willow idea sounds stunning. I always take my camera with me when I go to nurseries and take pictures of their pots – get lots of great ideas that way. Come back and visit often.