Please visit my photoblog below to get an idea of what I am talking
about:

First a quick note about navigating the site. Click any thumbnail to
see the picture, and click the big one to zoom in. You can zoom in more
from the next page.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/talllguy/sets/595528/

My first question is in reference to the plants in the flower-box. This
self-watering flower-box is very handy. It keeps everything watered
24/7. However, I am worried about over-watering. In the close up shots,
you can see some green stuff on the surface of the dirt. Is this algae?
How can I stop this and will it hurt my plants?

My other question is about the mint garden. As you can see, my plants
are beginning to grow. I water them with the sprinkler for about an
hour a day. Will they spread in this clay soil? I tilled it prior to
planting, and mixed in some top soil. However, with watering everyday,
the soil seems to have settled. I want this area to be completely
DEVOURED by the mint, which is why I planted such a intrusive array of
plants. I noticed the peppermint tends to grow out, while the others
just grow up. What can I expect and when?

I live in Maryland, north of Baltimore. The soil is all clay. The
summer is hot and humid (85+ everyday). It rains regularly all season
all year. Snow comes in late December and usually lasts on and off
until March.

That said, what can I expect of my creations year-round? Thanks a lot!