I am toying with the idea of moving the three trough planters that I have up the side of my drive, simply because they make it really awkward when getting out of the car. Firstly, so that the driveway isn't going to be bare, I am thinking of putting a windowbox/trough under the porch window (drawn on in green), and already planned to have my Passion Flower growing up the trellis at the back of the drive (on the left in this pic) I am then considering putting a couple of the three troughs behind the wall: Now, the wall isn't all that high as you can see, although the ground on the inside of the wall is about four or five inches lower - however, so that the display can be seen, I was considering getting some breeze blocks to stand behind the wall, with the troughs atop them? I was thinking of putting mostly upright flowers in them (dahlias and geraniums maybe) with a wee fringe of something like trailing lobelia just to soften/hide the edges a bit. Thing is, I am not sure if its going to look OK, or simply look like a couple of troughs stuck on top of a couple of breeze blocks (and be noticeable that is what they are). What do you think?
I think it would look lovely FC.....Down the side you could always knock up a couple of hanging baskets too
I was also thinking about getting one more of the troughs, and then placing two of them up on the flat roof at the back of the driveway, with a mix of trailing and upright nasturtiums in them?
Trailing verbena and trailing geraniums are a good do'er if they are a little out of reach....hardly need watering
Thanks loli - I would be able to reach them with my steps, but knowing me (lazy wee monkey at times) I would be more likely to stand at a distance and fire my hose up at a trajectory that would land in the troughs
Don't suppose there is a strip of soil behind that wall is there? If so you could plant some climbers there and they would twine in-and-out of the patterned blocks on top of the wall. Anyone going to nick your planters (behind the wall)?
I think .... ~ the passionflower up the trellis is a good idea ~ the window box under the porch window is a good idea; but, I would be tempted to put a matching one under the (hall?) window; or maybe under your sitting room window? ~ putting pots on top of the roof will be unnecessary once your passionflower takes off (I'm not a huge fan of the pots on the roof idea to be really honest) ~ putting the troughs on breeze blocks behind the wall will look ... like a couple of troughs put on breeze blocks (I know because I did something similar at my old house). It's all about scale really. Instead, I would be thinking along the lines of 3 tall planters (such as I managed to get from Homebase a couple of months ago; although I doubt they still have them). Reason? Your front window looks out at that wall and that is the view you will be seeing the most; plus, from a passer by viewpoint, it could make a statement. Just my thoughts, FC. I do know whatever you do, it will look smashing
Morning fat controller Could you make a soil planting just inside your wall pillar? A camellia for example? I guess you may not want to wish to disturb your paving so you could plant in largish container instead. You could then include your troughs, raised up as you suggest, along the wall. I would plant upright annuals...pelargoniums, argyranthemums, etc.
We have some 3-ply planters, on legs, and then some nicer 3-ply "outers" that we slide over them to make them look nice. In our case this is so that we can change the "inners" each season to alternatives that we have coming-on round the back. So if you want troughs on blocks, and they look a bit ugly, you could cover them up (rather than having to buy/make bigger planters - which will be quite heavy to move around I expect!) Here's what ours look like: http://kgarden.wordpress.com/projects/versailles-planters/
Thank you for your link Kristen. Don't they transform a display beautifully? Such a cleverly creative idea, Jenny
Thanks. #1 daughter knocked them up ... caught the bus to B&Q and bought some mouldings and had a fiddle with the jig-saw - clever girl
