Updating A Porch Planter For Spring – See what a difference new plants and a little paint can make when updating an old planter. I was so happy to get out yesterday to buy plants, and start the clean up of our front porch. It certainly has not received its normal attention this spring, but I’m slowly catching up.
Let me back up a bit and fill you in on what’s been going on in the background around here. Earlier this year we had a pretty bad winter snowstorm with sub-zero temperatures and no electricity for several days. During the prolonged power outage we lost all of our pool equipment, which we had to replace.
Of course I keep telling myself It could have been so much worse.
Then spring arrived and we could tell many of our trees, shrubs and plants were not coming back. After giving the hedge around the front of the house some extra time to recover, we realized we would be replacing a lot more landscape. Just to give you a glimpse, this is sight I came home to last Friday. Yikes!
My sweet Mister has been very busy pulling up all the bushes, and making repairs to the sprinkler system. Handy guy to have around! Next weekend we will plant new shrubs that are more freeze tolerant in case we have another sub-zero repeat.
We’re also in the middle of a bathroom remodel, updating all the cabinets, countertop, tile, shower glass surround, hardware and repainting. Half of the house is still covered in plastic and we are camping out in the guest room.
To say the least we have a whole lot going on, which I plan on sharing in the coming weeks.
Updating A Porch Planter For Spring
Due to all the traffic from the contractor guys coming through our front door, I haven’t had a chance to spruce up the porch until yesterday.
One of the plants I lost on the porch this winter was my 15 year old ivy. I miss the lush greenery, and all I’ve been thinking about is planting a new one. Then inspiration hit me.
in the spring Magnolia Journal there are three pages on A Gardner’s Guide To Planters, giving examples of thrillers, fillers and spillers. Well as you can guess I’m creating my own look for the porch. I mean, why go for the bronze, when the gold is in sight?!
The results I’m going for is instant gratification, with my favorite part sun and part shade loving plants. The thriller is a hydrangea, the fillers are coleus and hostas, then we have ivy for the spiller.
I should mention, that I’m not necessarily recommending my plant selection. Some plants will eventually start to outgrow the container and I will be transplanting them in the back yard. For now though, we have something pretty on the porch.
Did you notice my handy garden tote? I see how to make one click on DIY Garden Tool Caddy.
When planting in a container, I start with the largest plant first which is the hydrangea. I divided the hostas on one side, adding in the coleus on the other. The ivy is the last to go in, and it’s already trailing over the side.
A Coat Of Paint
It was at this point when I noticed the planter looking a bit shabby. A quick coat of Annie Sloan’s chalk paint in graphite makes it a bit more presentable. What do you think?
I had no idea that AS graphite and the color of my front door, SW iron ore, are so close to the same shade.
Simple Wreath For The Door
A simple ticking stripe wreath brightens the front door for now. I’m thinking about hanging a door basket on the door later in May, so I’ll have more on that in a few weeks. To see how to make a wreath similar to this one click on, How To Make A Ticking Stripe Wreath.
Follow Thistle Key Lane on Pinterest, where the boards are up to date with seasonal inspiration that you can use right now!
Thanks for letting me share what’s going on around here. It’s not always glamorous or interesting enough to go into a post, but the bathroom update is going to be a bit more exciting.
Cheers!
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