If you are anything like me, your compost heap is a work in progress.  It is an effort in pure do-gooder hopefulness.  Mine has been active and getting larger for probably 4 years, but since I have never turned it and I have never tried to take anything from beneath the new stuff that gets added to the top, I have nothing to show for my efforts (but I keep piling it on…).  I am intrigued by Burgon & Ball’s flexible compost aerator which is really just a giant wine bottle opener.   But the idea is that you screw it in, getting air to the middle so that the process speeds up.  Seems like it has potential and I would be interested to give it a try.

Do you have any clothing made of bamboo?  I have heard of it but never seen anything that I actually might buy.  But apparently is it an organic and sustainable resource that doesn’t even require irrigation. Products made with bamboo also biodegrade faster than synthetics and they are naturally better at controlling skin temperatures, wicking away moisture and they have a soft feel and built-in antibacterial qualities.  These gloves from Town and Co. look the same as my old gloves so I can’t think of any reason not to give them a try.

Do you use old frames or cloches?  I haven’t used either, but I am interested to try the later.  I just find them so charming.  Access Garden products was shortlisted for their newest version of the cloche.  It doesn’t have some of the charming styling of others, but it does look like it might be a whole lot more useful (because it is taller) and studier – because it is made to work and not just look cute.

There are 13 products on the short list for ‘best new product’ and they are all interesting.  Since I have this tendency to disagree with RHS judges, I will be sharing all the the nominees for best new garden product all week and at the end of the week will post a survey on Facebook so that we can choose our own favorite.

Check out the other contestants:

• Straysparks Hand Forged Decorative Trellis
• Twool Wool Garden Twine
• Sneeboer’s Roayl Dutch Hoe
• HozeLock’s Flexi Spray & the X-Hose
• More to come…

images burgon and ball, town and co and Access Garden Products.

Some people are suckers for variegated foliage but not me. I can easily pass up a one of a kind variegated pine or magnolia. Show me a chartreuse leaved plant though and you have my attention. My affection for chartreuse first started with Salvia ‘Golden Delicious’ and then ‘Wasabi’ coleus but now I am enamored with Aralia cordata ‘Sun King.’ With the compound foliage and large, clumping form, Sun King aralia provides a punch needed to a New England landscape. We have several plants at CMBG planted en masse. When this perennial began emerging several weeks ago, it was like the sun was rising out of the ground. Not really, but it was nice to see such bright foliage after a long, dark winter. We have our plants sited in full sun but the further south you go, the more shade you want to give this plant. I imagine that as you move into warmer climes, that there is a greater potential for leaf burn to occur with direct or afternoon sun. If you are unsure how it will do in your garden, you might want to try it first in a woodland garden or shady spot. Once Sun King aralia is established, it will form a 3′x3′ clump of that wonderful, bright chartreuse foliage. It does produce white flowers in the summer followed by black berries in late summer into early fall.

This Aralia was brought back to the United States from Japan by the wonderful plantsman, Barry Yinger. Supposedly, he found it amongst the racks at a department store garden shop.

If you have not grown this plant yet, give it a go as I am sure the bright foliage will give your garden that pop it needs.

-Rodney

Photos: Terra Nova Nursery flickr, gardenshorts.com

The medals have been posted for the 2013 Chelsea Flower Show.  There are lots of great gardens to share, but I am going to start with those that won best in show for their category.

The Aussie team behind the Trailfinders Australian Garden presented by Fleming’s has been awarded Best in Show. I can only imagine the hoopla that rose out of that lively team of builders.

This was Wes Fleming’s, head of Fleming’s Nurseries, ninth and final attempt at the show….and his team took the top honors for the first time.   It is always so great to see someone go out on top.

The garden was designed by Phillip Johnson and it presents a sustainable habitat complete with monolithic stone gorge, running waterfalls, a studio structure and billabong.

I had to look up what a Billabong is (besides a surfer supply company).  Here is what wikipedia says:

Billabong (pron.:  bil-ə-bong) is a Wiradjuri word that is used for an isolated pond that is left behind after a river changes course. Billabongs are usually formed when the path of a creek or river changes, leaving the former branch with a dead end. Billabongs, reflecting the arid Australian climate in which these “dead rivers” are found, fill with water seasonally and are dry for a greater part of the year.

More Winners ahead….

I’m so sad to not be at the show myself, but Adam Woodruff  is Studio ‘g’s man on the ground.  He has taken pictures of the show for us all to enjoy.  Thanks Adam!

Images are courtesy of Adam Woodruff.  All rights are reserved. 

Between the X-Hose and the Flexi Sprayer, hand watering might just have moved into the world of modern day convenience.  If you have a big garden like I do, then you need lots of lengths of heavy hose that have surely taken out your back — or at least a plant of two as you have moved it around.  Smaller gardens just don’t have the space for this necessary tool.  Either way, hoses are a pain in the butt and one of my least favorite things about gardening.   One that shrinks up like a shriveling leaf when I am not putting it use would put a big smile on my face.  I need to try this out.

Also up for the best new product award at Chelsea is the Flexi- Sprayer.  It is the all in one waterer that is meant to eliminate the need for other sprinklers   This head is flexible so you can use it as a hand waterer or as a free standing sprinkler or you can even hang it from overhead.  There are a variety of flow settings.  Why have a bucket full of sprinklers  when you can have just one…I hope it is made well though….am I alone in finding hand watering wands to be the most flimsy things ever?

There are 13 products on the short list for ‘best new product’ and they are all interesting.  Since I have this tendency to disagree with RHS judges (and don’t know yet which will win), I will be sharing all the the nominees for best new garden product all week and at the end of the week will post a survey on Facebook so that we can choose our own favorite.

Check out the other contestants:

• Straysparks Hand Forged Decorative Trellis
• Twool Wool Garden Twine
• Sneeboer’s Roayl Dutch Hoe
• More to come…

images hozelock, perennial shop.

Sneeboer makes tools that are on my personal short list of things worth spending a little more money for.   They have developed a new tool that made the Best New Product Shortlist at Chelsea.  It is designed specifically for women and it is meant to be used as you walk backwards (leaving you with a fine tilth and no foot prints and less risk of replanting weeds with your feet).

I am dubious on the claim that there is no backache and no need to bend — being 5’10 — this is rarely the height that these things are designed for.  But I am sure if you are between 5’5 and 5’8 it will probably be great.  And the handle shape is something I would like to give a try.  I think it would be very comfortable and more ergonomic that just a straight handle.

There are 13 products on the short list for ‘best new product’ and they are all interesting.  Since I have this tendency to disagree with RHS judges (and don’t know yet which will win), I will be sharing all the the nominees for best new garden product all week and at the end of the week will post a survey on Facebook so that we can choose our own favorite.

Check out the other contestants:

• Straysparks Hand Forged Decorative Trellis
• Twool Wool Garden Twine
• More to come…

images sneeboer

A vote for Twool’s new line of garden twine may not be a vote for a product you are going to see on your local nursery shelves (unless you live in the UK) – but that is kind of the point.  Twool twine is local to England is made of wool from sheep in Dartmoor.  It is the gardening twine local alternative to imported jute or plastic options.

Using the wool from Whiteface Dartmoor Heritage Rare Breed sheep, the twine is helping to save the breed as well as employing the services of nine different local industries.  It is a product that shows how locally made and locally manufactured products can help maintain local culture, jobs and lifestyle.  (And not to be too biased….but that is something that certainly grabs my attention).

There are 13 products on the short list for ‘best new product’ and they are all interesting.  Since I have this tendency to disagree with RHS judges (and don’t know yet which will win), I will be sharing all the the nominees for best new garden product all week and at the end of the week will post a survey on Facebook so that we can choose our own favorite.

Check out the other contestants:

Straysparks Hand Forged Decorative Trellis

More to come…

image Twool

Straysparks modular trellis system, which allows you to make your own trellis configuration, has been nominated for the best the new product award a Chelsea Flower Show. The individual pieces are handforged and can be built up to create any size or shape of trellis that you and your plants might require.

There are 13 products on the short list for ‘best new product’ and they are all interesting.  Since I have this tendency to disagree with RHS judges (and don’t know yet which will win), I will be sharing all the the nominees for best new garden product all week and at the end of the week will post a survey on Facebook so that we can choose our own favorite. More to come…

image from straysparks 

It’s Chelsea time! I’m so excited to be pulling together a week full of coverage.  I’m not able to be there in England this year, but that isn’t going to slow the steady stream of inspiration that I plan to bring you from the show.  So fasten your seat belts and get ready, Chelsea Flower show is on.

image by Bret Wood via HGTV

I came across Shannon’s blog 8FOOT6 while I was out perusing blogs during my weekly Before & After hunt. Her house is incredibly charming and as soon as I saw this before shot I knew the after was going to look like a million bucks.

Shannon has what I consider to pretty much be the perfect yard. A sweet fence combing the perimeter, lots of green leaves and shade, a structure to help break the space up, and it’s small but not *too* small. After circling my own yard about a thousand times over the past few days, looking at a yard like this is like a breath of fresh air. This makeover is really awesome, and I think the size of the plot makes this kind of overhaul seem that much more attainable. I love the patio and all the leafy green patterns. This is definitely one of my favorite makeovers yet! Nice work, Shannon. Oh- and you can see more of this makeover on her blog. Definitely worth checking out. -erin

If you have a great garden related makeover project that you would like to share with Studio ‘g’ readers please send us pictures and tell us about it.

-Erin

Images by Shannon from 8FOOT6.

I did a little plant shopping yesterday.  I wanted to get my planters looking pretty but this season I wanted it to be as quick and simple as possible because with all my other projects I just don’t feel like I have the time or creative brain-space to dedicate to the task at my normal more complicated level.  My 2013 containers are calling for a little black dress.

I have roughly 8-9 pots that I plant up each year and often I match up a few and then do something different for others as they are moved around the garden.  Wanting to get in and out of the nursery as quickly as possible though, I found myself honing in on a simple old standby – red geraniums.  All the planters (with the exception of one that is already filled with rosemary) are getting overflowing mounds of red geraniums.  They will carry me right through the summer with style and all I have to do is pinch back the blooms every so often.

There are few plants (IMO) that can so simply be put anywhere and be a stylish star.  I would argue that boxwood is another little back dress plant as well as a nice plume-y grass like Pennisetum ‘Red head’.  I can’t think of too many others at the moment…. I’m curious — what do you think qualifies as a little black dress plant?  Here is my definition…easy to grow, easy to maintain, looks good all season and everywhere (including in containers), and can completely standalone if needed.  

-Rochelle

(images by Rochelle Greayer)

I am going to start out by admitting that I have never been impressed with serviceberry. The first serviceberry or shadblow (Amelanchier spp.) that I encountered was in Pennsylvania in 1996. I was told that it was an impressive, native tree that was being promoted as a replacement for the over-used Bradford pear. When it flowered, well, um, I actually forgot ever seeing it in flower. It was so underwhelming. Since that time, I have seen other serviceberry trees and written them off because of short flowering time or early leaf drop in the summer.

My view has changed this spring in Maine. I am not sure whether it is Maine’s climate or the particular selections we have at CMBG but the flowering this year has been outstanding. Planted along our education center are Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Cole’s Select.’ They started flowering a couple of weeks ago and are still going strong. The form is somewhat upright and the trees are around 20′ in height, making for a remarkable display of white flowers this May. Amelanchier x grandiflora is a naturally occuring hybrid between the two east coast US native species: A. arborea  and A. laevis. The result is a small, upright, native, spring flowering, edible fruit producing, and brilliant fall colored tree. Our cultivar, ‘Cole’s Select’ has dark green leaves that turn a brilliant reddish-orange in the fall. The form is perfect for the small landscape, it reminds me of a small crepemyrtle or upright Japanese maple.

There are other cultivars of Amelanchier x grandiflora available including ‘Autumn Brilliance,’ ‘Princess Diana,’ ‘Robin Hill,’ and ‘Cumulus.’ We have ‘Autumn Brilliance’ and ‘Robin Hill’ planted in the gardens here in Boothbay and I would definitely like to add some more in the future based upon the performance this spring of ‘Cole’s Select.’

Do you have serviceberry planted in your garden? How is it growing for you?

-Rodney

Photos: Rodney Eason

I had a belated mothers day well wishing call with my mom yesterday.  We missed each other on Sunday.  She really enjoyed one of the gifts that I sent to her….which was a copy of Deborah Madison’s new cookbook Vegetable Literacy: Cooking and Gardening with Twelve Families from the Edible Plant Kingdom.  I have a copy for myself and love how it was organized (by plant kingdom) so I shared.

My mom particularly mentioned how excited she was to see recipes for shishito peppers in the book.  Have you heard of them?  Seems that these tasty pepper treats are quite trendy in Denver.  I also saw a story about their popularity the restaurants of Dallas.  But they haven’t made their way east to DC (where my mom searched for them when she last visited my sister) and they certainly are still unheard of here in the New England culinary hinterlands.  Mom found some starts at Tigawa Gardens last year but hasn’t had any luck this year.  (if you have seen them in the Colorado Springs or Denver Metro area let us know — she is on the prowl)

Regional scarcity and promised tastiness is just the impetus I need for planting something new! Seeds can be found at Kitazawa seed Company if you care to join in the experiment.  There is still time if you act quickly to get these going for this year.

My mom says that these sweet peppers are perfect when grilled and tossed with a little salt and oil just like this recipe at Spoon Fork Bacon.  Sounds perfect after a long day in the dirt…washed down with a cold beer.

image Spoon Fork Bacon

I spent a pretty good heap of time out in the yard today and I’m actually feeling quite good about how far I got [not the usual case...]. While I was removing a never ending sea of river rocks I remembered that today is Before and After day on Studio ‘g’ and I started to think about how much easier it will be to find content now that everybody can finally be out in their yard again! Gah, it’s about time. Anyway, this particular transformation has taken place over the last 2 years and it’s come a long way! Heather from Just a Girl with a Hammer is always up to something and I was pretty amped to see that she took a new photo of her front yard progress last week.

But before I show off her new yard I just wanted to point out that this is what it looked like last year…notice the awesome new exterior paint colors…they’re pretty great. In addition to painting, Heather ripped out all the grass in her front yard and replaced it with perennials. And as of a few days ago, it looks like this:

Such a huge difference, yeah? She mentioned that she’ll probably end up moving some of this later in the year because she’s worried about there being too many plants, but I think for now it looks pretty great. I can’t wait to see her update in a year from now…it’s always so much fun to watch yards transform! -erin

If you have a great garden related makeover project that you would like to share with Studio ‘g’ readers please send us pictures and tell us about it.

Images by Heather of Just a Girl with a Hammer.

I love sharing before and after shots.  They are so effective at capturing the sum total of a whole lot of work and subsequently are great inspiration.   I never really considered whether or not the whole concept and tool was being used before photography.  If I thought about it, I would have guessed not.  But British landscape designer Humphry Repton used the concept with his clients back in the late 1700′s.   Is it possible he was the first designer to use the before and after graphic device?   I have no idea….but I am absolutely fascinated to pour over the drawings he created as part of his client presentations.

These drawings were created as part of each clients ‘red-book’ which was a red leather-bound book that he created for each project.  All the drawings needed for the project was in the book and it typically included a sketch (or piece of art) of the existing conditions as well as the proposed final outcome.  

Not only that, but if you look closely you can see where he cut tabs into the drawings so that the new idea or concept could be folded back right on the page.  (look closely at the two images above where you can see the outlines of the lift off tabs).   I have seen some amazing artistry come from designer when they are making idea presentations….but this is perhaps the most amazing.  

It also explains a few things.  When in the English countryside, I have so many times marveled at how perfect it all seems.  Rivers run in big beautiful arcs and the hills roll elegantly into each other with stately trees dotted around perfectly.   Now I wonder if perhaps Mr. Repton had his hands all over the country….or at least all the Repton wannabes continued the job after his death.   

The before scenes are by no means hideous like urban brownfield sites that are so fun to see transformed into lush gardens.  But they aren’t quite as perfect as I have come to expect from England.  It makes me feel better to remind myself that these gardens and views have been manipulated for centuries and that there might not be a piece of dirt in the whole country that hasn’t been altered by some decent level of skilled gardener.  If you want to check out more of the contents of Humphry’s red books, you can take a virtual tour on The Morgan Museum’s website where two complete red books are presented. 

I also find Repton’s wikipedia page to be quite an interesting read.  They spend a good deal of effort contrasting Repton (who had no Horticultural skills but lots of talent and was a great sketch artist) to his predecessor Capability Brown.   It is interesting that Repton didn’t ever execute his designs (leaving that to the client to arrange separately) where as brown did….Repton subsequently did not become wealthy as brown did.  (so the message is to be a contractor, because you make more money?!? Feel free to discuss….)

I also find it really interesting that Repton was known for borrowing.  For example, he would alter the landscape so that a church steeple in the distance would be part of the pastoral scene or some one else’s trees could help to frame the picturesque view.

Oh– and check this out — his business card…… I may need to take some inspiration from that….

images: The Morgan 

First of all, last week was pretty awesome. The weather in Maine has been pretty good and then on Wednesday, we had our spring board meeting for CMBG in Chicago. It was in the mid-80′s when we landed in Chicago and tons of people were out running and biking along Lake Shore Drive. On Thursday and Friday, the temperatures plummeted into the 50′s but that did not stop our enthusiasm for touring the Chicago Botanic Garden and the Morton Arboretum. This was my first trip to Chicago, let alone either garden, which I had been wanting to see for years.

Both gardens are huge so our tours were quick and only covered part of each garden. I enjoyed seeing the different designs and plants that are used in Chicago. One plant in particular that caught my attention was Syringa pekinensis or the Peking lilac.

The tree was just outside of the walled garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden. This individual was the cultivar ‘Morton’ which is trademarked as China Snow. The tree was just starting to leaf out and had yet to flower but what was striking was the beautiful exfoliating bark. The bark reminded me a bit of a paperbark maple. The tree is supposed to flower in June with creamy, white flowers. It is hardy to USDA zone 4 or 5 and can only take the heat of zone 7. Any zones warmer than this will cause the tree to languish. Syringa pekinensis matures at 25-30′ in height and 25′ in width.

China Snow lilac is a selection from the collections at the Morton Arboretum as a part of the Chicagoland Grows program. I cannot wait to add one to the gardens at Coastal Maine.

-Rodney

Photos: rotarygarden.blogspot.com, davesgarden.com, thebenjamin.wordpress.com

This morning in my yoga class my teacher shared a dirty little secret.  She used to smoke <gasp>. This is confession was part of her sharing a realization that when she once had this habit (many years ago) it did have a very positive upside…..she did it outside.  Part of her smoking habit was to retire outside in the evenings with a cigarette where she enjoyed hours of just looking at the stars and whiling away the evening over smoker chatter.  It reminded me of doing the same with my grandmother (she too smoked) under a crabapple tree on her ranch.

It also touched a familiar nerve.  She was sharing this story to say that she is trying to find new ways to make that outside living part something that was part of a new life habit (but w/o the cigarettes).  I too have been searching for a way to make my lifestyle more inside/outside.  I grew up eating dinner on the deck nearly every summer evening…and I really miss that casual time that we don’t share now.

I have examined the problem and how to fix it for me.  I have a couple issues….first is that my current house doesn’t have a deck or a patio or any place where such a thing could take place.  Further, now that we are building a patio…it doesn’t have doors to easily access it.  Then there is the comfort issue (Colorado does not have the bugs that Massachusetts suffers).  So my solution is to three-fold (and I am working phase 1) build a patio first , then open up a way to get to it, and then deal with the bugs.   My yoga teachers solution is a little different.  She too is building a new patio but her key elements are a fire-pit and a hot tub (outside sit-down dinners aren’t on her agenda but hot-tubbing is).

So I’m curious, do you regularly hang out outside?  If you do, what draws you there?  And if you don’t, why not?  Is it bugs, it is overlooking neighbors, other comfort issues, lack of place, you prefer to be inside?

I am going to keep sharing our progress with you as we resolve our ‘get back to living outside’ issues.  I think I might try to share my yoga teachers progress as well.  But I would love to hear your excuse. What keeps you from enjoying your outdoor living space? – Maybe we can chat over ways to tackle the challenge?

You might remember a post from last fall when we broke ground ( I wish I could find it!). But here is where we are today.  The cobbles are almost all in (with the exception of the step) — they settled over the winter and need a little finessing….soon we will put in the polymeric sand to lock them in tight and then we will move on to build the pergola over the top.  More to come….

A little different than my usual Before & After posts, the landscape surrounding this new house was built from scratch and comes with a great story.  Jan Meissner and her husband went out on a limb and bought this unique piece of real estate almost 10 years ago. The house they were used to living in was situated on a partially wooded acre, surrounded by wildlife and serenity….and the house they built? Well, it backs up to a rolling golf course that was actually an airport in its previous life.

The terrain was nothing more than a swath of dry clay– a far cry from anything remotely close to a perfect gardening plot. So in came the trucks, piled high with rich, black topsoil, on a mission to create a brand new lot capable of supporting lots of plush grass and beautiful perennials. My favorite thing about this landscape is that Jan was able to add a huge variety of plants without it feeling too busy. You should really check out the full article– she actually entered her yard into a contest ran by Fine Gardening Magazine…and won!…and the essay she submitted is a pleasure to read. Enjoy! -erin

Images by Jan Meissner

Karen M’Closkey and Keith Vandersys of Peg OLA have been making interesting projects with the use of parametric software and laser cut weed fabric.   Patterns are precut to customized designs which are then laid out on site and seeded.   The inexpensive and relatively easy installation and maintenance are helping them to create interesting landscape features.  

I was thinking that something similar could be done on even more simply by unrolling the weed barrier fabric and experimenting with folding and cutting (much the way you might with paper dolls or paper snow flakes)  to create interesting designs that you can lay out on the ground.

images suckerpunch daily

It was around 15 years ago when I first heard about the genus Epimedium. This was while we lived in North Carolina and I worked at Plant Delights Nursery. Here was an evergreen groundcover that flowered, could grow in the shade, and was pretty tough. Since that time, whenever I hear anyone talk about Epimedium they usually refer to it as an underrated and underused perennial. Well, that has been 15 years so it is high time that more of us gardeners need to get on with it and plant Epimedium. And I forgot to mention that deer do not like to eat them.

At Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, we are working on developing a collection of Epimedium or “fairy wings” (as they are commonly called) in the gardens. Of all the plants in our collection, one that has really caught my attention is Epimedium wushanense. A friend had posted a picture of his on Facebook and it reminded me to take a closer look at ours. It stands out by having spiny looking leaves. The leaves are also much larger than most species, up to 10″ long with irregular, red tints to the leaves as well. All Epimedium have unique flowers and E. wushanense differs from other Epimedium by having smaller flowers with more on each spike.

As an aside, if you, like me, have kids and have seen the movie Kung Fu Panda, then this plant brings to mind the wushi finger hold. Maybe not… ok, back to this week’s plant.

Hardy to USDA zone 5 or 6 (it is so uncommon that we are not sure yet), Epimedium wushanense is one plant to add to that spot where you struggle to grow most everything else: shade, dry, with deer, etc. It will prefer a slightly well-drained soil with adequate moisture until established. Once established, it will form a nice clump. It will lose its leaves during the winter in a colder climate but is beautiful when emerging in the spring.

Epimedium wushanense was introduced by the former owner of Garden Vision Nursery, Darrell Probst. This species comes from the Wushan Mountains of the Sichuan province of China.

As you are plant shopping this spring, be sure to add an Epimedium or two or three to your garden. And if you come across E. wushanense, pick one up and give it a try. You are sure to impress your plant geek friends this summer!

-Rodney

Photos: plantsnouveau.com, collectorsnursery.com, art.ngfiles.com, Rodney Eason

I love changing out my containers for the seasons.  After many years of doing this sort of thing for clients on a large-scale, it is nice to just do one or two around my own house — I can play and experiment in a way that isn’t always possible when the arrangement has to meet schedules and bear the brunt of sitting street-side in an urban setting.

Spring container arrangements are the shortest lived of the container plantings (closely followed by fall) so there are a few tricks to keep the change out simple.

Pro Tip# 1 Do not bother to take the potted bulbs out of their container.

This is a waste of time when you are planting it up and it makes the mess of dismantling it more difficult as well.  You are going to do this in just a few short weeks so you may as well help yourself out.   I got my bulbs from Lowes and rest of the materials came from my garden.   This is the fun of working on a project in your own garden — everything has possibility.

Here is how I started…

With some extra potting soil, I raised the dirt height from last season (this will go to good use when I plant for summer).  I made the height just right so that when I set the bulb pots in the container the tops were a couple inches above the height of the container.

Pro Tip # 2  Don’t assume that the soil level has to be below the edge of the pot.  Mound it up for more interesting design options!

It is my preference to  let the full plant show — it helps with scale and it gives lots of opportunity to add other elements around the base.

Once the containers were in place I filled around them with potting soil (mounding it over the pots) and covered it with moss that I gathered from the woods.  Pouring water over it and wetting the moss into place secures the dirt and the moss together.   This is what it looked like (apologies for not taking pictures before — I got ahead of myself — but I think you can figure out how to get here).

Pro Tip # 3 Treat your container plantings like a living floral arrangement.  Don’t be afraid to add clipped flowers to enhance the plants.

I snipped a branch of forsythia that is in full bloom, dismantled it into short pieces and added it to the composition to jazz it up a bit.  But I think it still needs something.

Pro Tip # 3 Use what you have on hand in your garden or what you can find in nature to add extra embellishment.

I grabbed a few rocks laying in the garden to give a little more releif….layering them under the moss.   My Pieris (andromeda) is also in full bloom so I clipped a few sprays of blooms to add a new texture, and I just shoved them into the damp soil through the moss.  They will keep for as long as the tulips last (and if not, it takes 20 seconds to clip some fresh blooms and refresh – or change it up with something else that has come into flower).

You may disagree, but I think it still needed a little something more….so I took another walk through the garden.  I have a bed that hasn’t yet received its spring cleaning and there are a few patches of Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ still standing with their dried flower heads.  That they are kinda the same color as the tulips was a perfect reason to add them to my arrangement.
This is what I came up with … an easy mix of garden clippings and potted Tulips.   What do you have blooming or looking interesting in your garden that might pair nicely with spring bulbs? — I really am curious…I need a little inspiration.

And don’t forget — plant the bulbs in your garden when you take this apart.   It isn’t true that forced bulbs will never bloom again….they may need a year or two to recover and get back into their natural groove….but they will come back — I have a garden full of daffodils discarded from commercial projects to prove it!

Images: Rochelle Greayer

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Lowes.  This is a series that I am doing for the next 9 months.  Once a month, they give me the cash for materials and a theme and I work out a DIY that hopefully we can all use.  I’m really looking forward to the challenge! I am not an employee of Lowes and all opinions are my own. If you want to see more, check out last month’s project – DIY Terracotta Plant Markers.