A while ago Mark gathered all the smaller ceramic pots that we display throughout the garden. He left them by the deck waiting for them to drain and dry out before storing them for the winer.
A week ago today we worked together to get them all stowed away until next spring. We used to bring our big pots indoors for the winter but these days we have too many to display inside anymore. The majority of these are all by local artist, Mark Skudlarek, of Cambridge Woodfired Pottery.
The big pair on the right have layers of bubble wrap between them for extra protection. These are the pair that I use with giant Hostas in them on either side of our new stone steps that lead up into the front garden.
Until we went to stack these pots I did not realize that I had three matching ones. One pot was on the stone wall out front in the Moon Garden holding my new fastigate Ginkgo tree. The other two sat on either side of Buddha on the back deck holding 'Golden Tiara' Hostas. I plan on keeping the Ginkgo in a pot for a few years but next spring I think I will put Japanese ferns in these pots rather than the small Hostas.
This is one of the first few pots we got from Mark Skudlarek. We use this as the Tsukubai water feature with a copper pipe that drips into it so that the water overflows.
This pot is cracked so we handle it very carefully. It should last a long time if we don't heave it around casually and if we don't let any water freeze in it. We lost a large pot a few years ago when it fell over in a storm and hit a rock. Now we are more careful about where we put the pots so that can't happen again.
This storage unit that Mark built is on the east side of the garden right up against the garage wall. There's also a big maple tree and the roof overhang giving the area added protection from the elements. And there's Mr. Metalhead watching over everything day and night, whatever the season or the weather.
That's a whole lot of work but those beautiful pots are worth it. But what do you do with the plants that were in them?
Posted by: Barbara H. | Thursday, October 25, 2018 at 06:40 AM
You do have a nice collection of pots. Fun to see them stacked up for the winter. I have put away all the pots I am saving this year. Winter is almost upon us.
Posted by: Lisa at Greenbow | Thursday, October 25, 2018 at 07:27 AM
The big Hostas Abiqua Drinking Gourd get stuck in the ground for the winter in an empty spot out of the way. The pair of tiny Hostas got composted as I have so many of them I can easily dig some in the spring.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Thursday, October 25, 2018 at 08:40 AM
Chopped 11 bags of leaves for winter mulch which I will put down once the ground freezes. Now I just have to cut down the plants.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Thursday, October 25, 2018 at 08:44 AM
You've a nice collection of beautiful pots. Even tucked away for the winter they look good. I feel fortunate that we can leave pots in situ year round, one more benefit of living in a relatively mild winter climate.
Posted by: Peter/Outlaw | Thursday, October 25, 2018 at 08:52 AM
I love that striped pot but all are beautiful. It's hard for me to wrap my head around all the winter preparations I read about in blog posts when we're expecting temperatures near 90F again tomorrow and there's no rain in sight.
Posted by: Kris P | Thursday, October 25, 2018 at 11:57 AM
It was about 45 degrees when I went out for a few hours to cut back Hostas and things that are getting gross from frosts. There is always a lot to do before winter gets here and as it ends, but I have to say I enjoy having a break from gardening all winter.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Thursday, October 25, 2018 at 07:39 PM