Plants in pots

Though my garden has plants in containers, I would not characterize them as container plantings. I always liked the late Christopher Lloyd's collection of one plant per pot massed outside the entrance to his house. Thus I always put a few pots by my front door, too. But Mark is not crazy about this look so I can't be as dramatic as Lloyd always was at Great Dixter (below).

This year I dug up a Canadian Hemlock that needs a new home as the centerpiece of the front display. But it is losing needles on a couple of small branches so I am not sure if it can stay in a pot too much longer.

I always seem to have a Hosta or a Heuchera that can live in a pot for the summer. This spot is fairly shady which works well with all these plants. I am also letting a seedling of the Carex 'Bunny Blue' that I recently pulled out grow on in a pot. I figured I can control one of these in a pot as long as I don't let it escape into the garden. The Heuchera flowers go so well with the pink Astilbe 'Nicky' that it looks like I planned it. In fact, I can't quite figure out what I was thinking when I bought that Astilbe and it doesn't have a permanent home as a result. 

The plants that I put in the rock wall make a nice transition from the front door to the steps up into the garden proper. It's all rather restrained, though you can no doubt see how perfect this space would be for a Christopher Lloyd-type display!

Another container sits on the curved limestone wall that Mark built many years ago. This one features Hosta 'Frances Williams' and a self-seeded fern. They greet you at the top of the steps.  

At the far end of this same wall is a matching Mark Skudlarek pot containing a Korean maple (Acer pseudosiebolidiana), the last of many I've bought at the Wisconsin Hardy Plant Sale. Though it's 40 inches tall (100 cm), it is hard to photograph but easy to see as you walk through this space. 

This tree is a few years old and has been growing in a pot in the shade each summer. Thus it is very narrow which is a look I love. One of these days — or years — I will have to find a permanent home for it. But I'm not in a rush to move it as I enjoy it waving in the breeze above my head as I pass by.

There are a few plants in pots on the deck but that's another story — or two.

Comments

[Peter/Outlaw]

There simply isn't enough space in the ground to plant all that we want to grow! Pots to the rescue. I revisited the nursery with 'Bunny Blue' and brought a couple home thinking of you. I'm always looking for something that'll grow in fairly deep shade but after your warning, They'll be growing in pots.

[Lisa at Greenbow]

It is difficult to take a picture of a small tree in a pot. I have one in a pot too and have tried to get a picture of it. Your picture isn't bad at all. I like the grouping by the door. I love the look that CHristopher Lloyd did with one plant per pot. It appears as a whole garden. Don't the plants look happy! Come on Mark, let her go wild one summer. ;) Self seeding fern?? What fun.

[Linda Brazill]

It's the inflorescence/seed heads that you have to watch. I pull them out when they are still grassy and not yet seeds. Of course, that way you don't get those waving seed heads but you don't get babies either!

[Frank]

Wow, I love the ferns you have planted in the rock by your door. A maidenhair fern at that, some day I dream of finding a spot where one will be happy here!
I love the stonework in your garden.

[Linda Brazill]

I am also amazed at how well that Maidenhair fern has settled into the rock. I am not watering it so it must get what it needs. I am lucky that Maidenhair ferns (and the Maidenhair venustum variety) grow really well here. I am using it as a ground cover in a couple of spots.

[Loree / danger garden]

Love your mini-Christopher Lloyd display!

[Linda Brazill]

The head of Rotary Gardens not far from here, worked at Great Dixter as part of their volunteer crews. He described how they do those front door displays and it is nothing any of us will ever be able to accomplish on our own in our home gardens!