BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Container Gardening Lori's Container Garden Journal

I've been enjoying my BOL forum journal in the Exercise forum so I decided to start a journal for my container gardening efforts. I'd love to get feedback from Lestie, readers and lurkers!

I'm thinking of pulling out specific entries with pics to make my own coffee table type book.

Anyway, thank you to Lestie for the inspiration to container garden.

Today is April 9: After posting in the container garden forum, I decided to resurrect my containers. Right now, they hold plumeria canes along with either allysum or impatiens to fill in the pot. I'll need to replant some allysum. The impatiens managed to endure my neglect.

I'm happy to note that I still have a few containers waiting to be filled. Just a matter of choosing the type of plants. Fun.

To my husband's chagrin (he is such an orderly, sleek-lined, contemporary type of person), I want to grow a whimsical garden with interesting types of containers. I'm going to keep my eye out for some at local garage sales.

Thank you again, Lestie, for allowing me to post in your forums. My personal life is unpredictable and filled with family demands. These BOL forums really keep me in a calm, joyful state. I can pop in and out during the nooks and crannies of my time, and I'm often in front of the computer to write.

I forgot all about my online container gardening journal since I have been posting my food and exercise journals. Well, here we are on May 1st, and last month was good for my containers!

April:
Mint: I added a peppermint plant to my large container with another type of mint. I forgot exactly what type of mint it is. Large, fuzzy leaves. Can anyone help identify?

Plumeria: I had removed a very old but established Hawaiian ginger flower plant from an inconvenient place in the yard and planted several stalks (what do you call them?) in about five containers. I planted either allysum (white and purple) or impatiens around the bottom to fill out the containers so they wouldn't look like I was growing sticks.

Chives, green onion and cilantro: Seeds in small containers.

Marigold: Just bought a marigold and planted it in an empty container that was sitting there for a while. Not good feng shui to have empty containers around!

Trees (lemon, orange and avocado): Not containered but thought I'd record that I gave all three trees some much-needed fertilizer this month.

The flower beds are not containers but I want to record my effort here as well. All are in bloom and they look gorgeous. The annuals from last year (petunias) could be replaced because of browning stems, but they're still giving forth some pretty flowers. I'm surprised they're still lasting.

I added some new allysum to fill in some empty spots in the front flower bed. The honeysuckle, gardenias, azaleas, geraniums and this other flower (can't recall the name for some reason) are all doing so well.

It is hard to remember to water the Japanese maple because the lawn was replaced with artificial grass to save water and I no longer have a lawn sprinkler system. Only a flower bed drip irrigation.

May:
Mint: Realized that the poor growth prior to now was due to insufficient water and too much sun. Mint likes moisture! So I am keeping it watered well and erected a shade for the harsh afternoon sun. The container is an old cement tub and I can't really move it easily.

Chives, green onion and cilantro: I saw one wisp of green trying to break the surface of the soil today.

Great job. My garden is growing - there are five tomatoes and peas. Three of the tomatoes are in the earthbox and the other two are in regular pots. The peas are growing in a large pot and climbing on three stakes shaped like a tepee. This year I decided on planting a lot of flowers. I just have to keep a lookout for birds and squirrels.

The greens are growing. Still young and too early to snip though!

And one worrisome development: Overwatered the mint which isn't a problem for the mint but the moisture attracted a lot of snails. Don't see them but see their evidence. They've been eating the mint!

One of my tomato plants has some beautiful fruit. After the derecho came through over a week ago, the plants became a bit twisted together but they are not damaged.

Re Lori's question: "Mint: I added a peppermint plant to my large container with another type of mint. I forgot exactly what type of mint it is. Large, fuzzy leaves. Can anyone help identify?" This sounds like Grapefruit Mint. I have some of this, and it doesn't look like regular mint.

Lori, if the snails are eating the mint, maybe it's time for escargot! Sounds like they've been prepping by eating herbs.