Vertical gardening……….sounds a little futuristic.  But it’s so cool, and absolutely fabulous for those who are really limited on space or just want to try something new.  I just love all the creative genius’s out there!  And I had never heard of the term “flower tower” before…….almost a blast from the ‘60’s J.

Plants need:  oxygen, water, food, light, and the right climate in order to flourish whether they grow up, down, or sideways.  So there is not much difference in maintenance.  Well, there are a few tips and tricks to be aware of:

• When you mount your garden allow for some space between the frame and the wall on which it is mounted.  This allows for proper air circulation. Also, be sure to use a proper growing medium allowing the soil to get the oxygen they need.
• Because gravity is an issue in vertical gardening, the irrigation of your VG can be tricky.  A hose is not the best option because it may cause too much run off and the plants on the lower end of the garden may not get the water they need. That method would also be time consuming.  A dripper system would be the optimum way to go requiring a small pump and a timer.  Fairly inexpensive though.
• An application of slow release granule fertilizer (I like Ozmocote) will take care of nourishing the plants most of the season.
• Place your VG in a place where the plants can get the appropriate amount of sunlight.  This means planting compatible plants in your garden.  Also, if possible tilt the bottom end of the garden out slightly so that those plants are not shaded by plants on top.

We have the perfect place to try one of these gardens.  It’s shaded most of the time so it may present somewhat a challenge, but I think I’m going to go with some coleus and ferns for my first try.  I happen to have a brand new pallet and some leftover landscape fabric to line the back and bottom so it’s not going to cost much to try.  Sounds fun!

….in Heaven I’ll grow Hydrangeas!

We just went to a home and garden show and saw some of the most amazing pergolas.  I didn’t even know what that was until I became a HGTV groupie.  Now, I WANT one.  And we have the perfect place.  Just on our side of the fence that separates us from the enormous 5^th wheel just on the other side of said fence.  The one our neighbor uses for his office 3 seasons of the year.  I’m glad we love them so much or it could be a real problem.

When we had our rock wall built in the backyard we designed it to have a couple of planting areas.  Planter boxes, if you will.  I just love them.  I have tulips coming up in them now, and as they die down I have purple salvia, creeping phlox, and Snow in Summer (I love it and curse it all the time) blooming.  When the Snow in Summer has stopped blooming and I have cursed it once again and chopped the heck out of it, the geraniums I have/will plant will bloom for the rest of the season, along with second and even third blooms from the salvia.  Now there’s a plant that really gives it’s all.  Although the second and third blooms are not nearly as profuse as the first, it still adds a nice colored backdrop to the geraniums and the ice plant that is one of the funnest rock garden plants ever.  It grows and creeps like crazy but is still easy to control.

Along with these planting “boxes” in the wall my husband built a long planter box up next to the house where we have vinca minor planted.  I also plant geraniums in that.  The vinca minor trails down the front of the box and looks beautiful.  It also takes some “handling” a couple times during the year.  I cut it back in early spring and then tame it again in July.

As soon as things are planted, and the weather is nice, I will take a picture of my planter boxes to add.

• Wooden boxes

Window planter boxes

• Repurposed planters
• Galvanized pots (washtub, Watering can, etc.)
• Rock garden planter boxes

Do you like distressed décor?….walls, furniture, cabinetry?

Why do we want to take something that looks new and make it look old?  I don’t know, but I know I really like the look (in most cases). Distressing is one of the most popular ways to add panache to just about anything you own.