On Tue, 10 Feb 2004 22:00:06 +0000, Kay Easton wrote:

In article , FF
writes
I got two large planters for Christmas and they're sitting out there empty while
I
dither. I've already got a fig and a bay in planters, with a variety of things,
daffs, nasturtiums, broad beans, chrysanths etc an a big huddle of pots nearby.
The garden is south-facing & in the SW but rather windy as it's on the top of a
hill.
I also don't have much space to bring things in for the winter.

I've been looking in the Parker's catalogue and there's lots in there I fancy
but I
don't know what would withstand the wind best. I just loved the datura &
mimosa, but
I guess they're out.

I suspect the datura would cope with the wind, but it wouldn't like to
be outdoors all year.
The mini-olives look like fun but would they be safe
outdoors
all year? We almost never get the sort of frost that lasts all day. And what
about
the contorted hazel?

The contorted hazel looks lovely in winter and spring, and like a heap
of green dish rags the rest of the year.

Drat! That's what I thought you'd say.


Maybe I should just plant 'em up with spuds, but I really would like something a
bit
more decorative:-)

I once had purple leaved french beans surrounded by yellowy green mini
lettuces. That looked quite striking.

That sounds like my kind of thing:-)

Do you want them to be permanently planted, or are you planning to move
things in and out during the year?

I'd like them permanently planted with a shrub-type thing. I've got violas in with
the fig at the moment and some of the older pots have a mystery-mix of spring bulbs
underneath things that flower later in the year. I'd really like to have something a
bit architectural, I think.

I'd suggest looking for something to give height, something evergreen,
and a succession of things popping up to give colour. Cyclamen are good,
and you could probably manage those not-quite-hardy ones.

Cyclamen sound good, but I was thinking bigger really. These are big pots.

Mini daffodils
are very good at fighting their way up through foliage, giving early
spring colour, and then quietly going to sleep for the rest of the year.
Their place can be taken by annuals, or perhaps a climber like morning
glory or a mixed pack of Convolvulus , so you don't know what colour
flowers will be out each morning - they only last a day and come in all
shades of pink, purple and blue.

That sounds cool! I like the idea of checking it every day before I set off for work.
And maybe a climber (on a trellis? pyramid?) would be a good idea for the time being.

Sorry this is a bit short - I'm still at the stage where I have to look everything up
before I know what it is! And it's time for bed now:-(

thanks!

Liz