Container Gardening, how to make a great looking planter

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTzQWrzvL8ibf8oQ8k9d6PieyO28WXJTx52rj8_6UhNx3ZBc3lhpVv_Gs014XDGU3TYaBfagcS3eMalk6UCyDUltrxhtmmst4i6Bvjl-A-_ZGJay41A9wnfG8_him1NAihvSPFwmWgB4/s1600/Untitled-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTzQWrzvL8ibf8oQ8k9d6PieyO28WXJTx52rj8_6UhNx3ZBc3lhpVv_Gs014XDGU3TYaBfagcS3eMalk6UCyDUltrxhtmmst4i6Bvjl-A-_ZGJay41A9wnfG8_him1NAihvSPFwmWgB4/s1600/Untitled-2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://www.mypcgarden.ca/" target="_blank">PC Garden</a> hosted a garden party at my home two weeks ago with a guest list included <a href="http://www.cantleygardens.com/who-we-are" target="_blank">Peter Cantley</a>, <a href="http://www.martinfarms.ca/" target="_blank">Bob Martin of Martin Farms</a><u> </u>and some pretty amazing bloggers (many of whom I had never met!).  Because I was playing hostess I didn't really snap too many photos during the event (I was yapping away - I can just talk forever and lose track of time) so when you have a moment, go to <a href="http://vintagepaperparade.blogspot.ca/2014/05/a-little-garden-party-and-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Debra's blog because she has a great number of photos</a>. Part of the party was getting down and dirty - making some planters. I have always been pretty intimidated by making planters so I have always defaulted to just used ferns on our front porch. But what I walked away with from this party was was Peter's easy description of how to make a fabulous, professional looking planters....<br /><a name="more"></a>The trick - you have a<b> Thriller, Fillers and third - the Spillers.</b> Seriously. It's <i>ridiculously</i> easy once you know that! First, you have the <b>THRILLER</b> - One single amazing tall plant. Perhaps a grass - but it's the Pièce de résistance<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">.  </span>It goes in the middle, and then you build around it. Then you have the <b>FILLERS</b>. Peter explained you use three, in a triangular pattern around the Thriller. They shouldn't get as tall as the thriller, instead - meant to "fill" out the pot. Them lastly, you have the <b>SPILLERS</b>. A spiller would be a plant that does just that - it overflows from the pot. Again, you plant these in a triangular pattern, filling in the spaces left from the fillers. My favourite spillers have to be<a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=Potato+Vines&es_sm=93&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=F9aRU5-kJdCj8gH-t4HgAg&ved=0CCEQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=1075" target="_blank"> Potato Vines</a>. Love them. See? Three easy steps.<br /><br />You can read more about container gardening in the links below. And I have a giveaway, but it's being hosted this time over on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LittleHouseBlog" target="_blank">facebook</a> page. So hop on over there! xo<br /><br /><b>More information that you may like:</b><br /><a href="http://www.mypcgarden.ca/" target="_blank">PC Garden</a><br /><a href="http://www.finegardening.com/thrillers-fillers-spillers" target="_blank">Fine Gardening.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.hgtv.com/gardening/how-to-design-a-container-garden/index.html" target="_blank">Container Gardening HGTV.com</a><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPJWbHPGOt8" target="_blank">Bob Martin of Martin Farms YouTube Video</a><br /><br /><i>I was not financially compensated for hosting the event. I was given some plants, vegetables and planters for my own garden. </i>

Container Gardening, how to make a great looking planter

PC Garden hosted a garden party at my home two weeks ago with a guest list included Peter Cantley , Bob Martin of Martin Farms   and some p...

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Sponsored Post / Gardening with Miracle-Grow, Giveaway

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6UweK8bokUhtORN6GZIpYrVlV_UDEIQqvA9h89UnMIQZjinf5z3QT6rqiYHvrDJm500t5eUVg2OkgAi1UDHUlRV8_HKoJHkyPrgopiHJZVTKV8JvRymR8naMvAc98xX30IrgDFpt2TE/s1600/015e902569ee8935bceb3ee26856ceb31c59212cc0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6UweK8bokUhtORN6GZIpYrVlV_UDEIQqvA9h89UnMIQZjinf5z3QT6rqiYHvrDJm500t5eUVg2OkgAi1UDHUlRV8_HKoJHkyPrgopiHJZVTKV8JvRymR8naMvAc98xX30IrgDFpt2TE/s1600/015e902569ee8935bceb3ee26856ceb31c59212cc0.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Before" </td></tr></tbody></table><br />Since we moved into our house, I've been hooked on gardening. It came with a ridiculously large backyard (in downtown Toronto standards) and your typical front garden. We've been making an effort to improve our curb appeal over the years and done a pretty good job - but I don't have it in me to do too much more to the front garden due to budgetary restrictions and, energy. It's looking a little sad, and needs some help.<br /><br />The folks at Miracle-Grow reached out to me (maybe they drove by my sad front garden?) and wondered if It'd be interested in documenting the growth of some of their "Flower Magic". I've used <a href="http://www.scotts.ca/smg/templates/index.jsp?pageUrl=miraclegroLanding" target="_blank">Miracle-Grow</a> in our garden from <a href="http://www.miraclegro.com/smg/catalog/productTemplate.jsp?proId=prod140002&itemId=cat50106&nodeId=&" target="_blank">their watering devices</a> and I'm also <a href="http://www.scotts.ca/smg/goprod/miracle-gro-continuous-release-plant-food/prod10090006/" target="_blank">using this</a> on our potted vegetables in our backyard. So I have no problem recommending their line as I use it over here <i>regularly </i>so I was game. Miracle-Grow sent me some of their Flower Magic and I was such a dum dum and didn't really realize what it was, so was totally shocked when I read that all you had to do is <b>shake, water, and watch it grow.</b> Um. Helloooooo? It's a all-in-one flower seed mix that grows into a stunning flower garden in just six weeks.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1hCqaWe-9Vhl6vUzF1Xnh_3pLXrngw3TNgOs6DiZCnEf9A4U3EGg1m7STm8qHgT0STm2QHtq9H8J1KHA1rFquUCkyXVeKXnVvS2sPdJ_kMgAl_DQNRk_CXR5ZsVd5RPXmmhEO5B6cZE/s1600/1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1hCqaWe-9Vhl6vUzF1Xnh_3pLXrngw3TNgOs6DiZCnEf9A4U3EGg1m7STm8qHgT0STm2QHtq9H8J1KHA1rFquUCkyXVeKXnVvS2sPdJ_kMgAl_DQNRk_CXR5ZsVd5RPXmmhEO5B6cZE/s1600/1a.jpg" /></a></div><br />I decided to use the "<a href="http://www.scotts.ca/smg/gocat2/flower-seed-mixes/cat10680007//10300058" target="_blank">Flower Magic</a>" on one of our front beds (shown above) as well as another secret way that isn't shown, but I'll reveal in an upcoming post. But to start me off, on this series of posts over the next few months showing you the procession, I just wanted to show you the "before" and also - host a little giveaway.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsLge9l1YemOB4z3JHuEd-x-FMIY-S76sW_loRi1pmOMISn6lS-S5HzMdjHMA2JWVV3kNl4mlDoiyseCVqGdcbevydq0tA6uQhmp9u8X3sRvVWtqr8gepfb5R4FskVScga7-AGZC2P2g/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsLge9l1YemOB4z3JHuEd-x-FMIY-S76sW_loRi1pmOMISn6lS-S5HzMdjHMA2JWVV3kNl4mlDoiyseCVqGdcbevydq0tA6uQhmp9u8X3sRvVWtqr8gepfb5R4FskVScga7-AGZC2P2g/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b>GIVEAWAY: Enter to win a Miracle-Grow Gift Pack</b><br />The prize pack includes: • <a href="http://www.scotts.ca/smg/gocat2/flower-seed-mixes/cat10680007//10300058" target="_blank">NEW Miracle-Gro flower magic Multicolour Mix & Pink + White Mix</a> • Embossed Watering Can • Water-Repellant Indoor/Outdoor Blanket • Cotton Rope Hammock • Outdoor drink ware collection • Durable, insulated and waterproof picnic basket <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQE7PJmlk36Izm2xBWy70YisfCMtdlvkEYeuMvYq3vExQ9TOgBL4-QLlv0fcqJITYEGo46P2xVPERdK1VEhmOPyHi7S0elcIWDeEbgHA7R8MlGEQIYC5qwVRv989Oe5dQvE3OvTu1C8w/s1600/ssssssss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQE7PJmlk36Izm2xBWy70YisfCMtdlvkEYeuMvYq3vExQ9TOgBL4-QLlv0fcqJITYEGo46P2xVPERdK1VEhmOPyHi7S0elcIWDeEbgHA7R8MlGEQIYC5qwVRv989Oe5dQvE3OvTu1C8w/s1600/ssssssss.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>HOW TO ENTER:</b> Comment and let me know what your favourite flower is. So simple! Get bonus entries for the following things. (Bonus entries mean, you can comment additional times letting me know you did these, which up's your chances of winning) You don't NEED to do these, but they are extra.<br />(a) Tweeting a link to the contest with the hashtag # flowermagicCA and cc'ing me - @littleHouseBlog<br />(b) Posting on Instagram a picture of your garden, and mentioning the contest with the hashtag #FlowerMagicCA and cc'ing me - @LindsayStephenson<br /><br /><b>Contest Closes:</b> Friday, May 23rd at Midnight and is only open to Canadian residents. Sorry about that my American friends. We'll have another giveaway for you soon!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsLge9l1YemOB4z3JHuEd-x-FMIY-S76sW_loRi1pmOMISn6lS-S5HzMdjHMA2JWVV3kNl4mlDoiyseCVqGdcbevydq0tA6uQhmp9u8X3sRvVWtqr8gepfb5R4FskVScga7-AGZC2P2g/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsLge9l1YemOB4z3JHuEd-x-FMIY-S76sW_loRi1pmOMISn6lS-S5HzMdjHMA2JWVV3kNl4mlDoiyseCVqGdcbevydq0tA6uQhmp9u8X3sRvVWtqr8gepfb5R4FskVScga7-AGZC2P2g/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" /></a><br /><i>This post has been <a href="http://aubreyandlindsay.blogspot.ca/p/site-policies.html" target="_blank">sponsored </a>by Miracle-Grow. </i>

Sponsored Post / Gardening with Miracle-Grow, Giveaway

The "Before"  Since we moved into our house, I've been hooked on gardening. It came with a ridiculously large backyard (in dow...

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I hate our grass - landscaping plans

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzAcad9WU8WMtXiwBALRCNJTnX9ei87hUe4CITQ4lXXmLHakVjZB9Hs5RHtFBkf3egFWgaOcR_1xDirGFj53X7mtYWczCYJ7iEqj3qxSw5pFVkvMbFCURDVdhZCxkar_Av5pKSe8nWKY/s1600/grass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzAcad9WU8WMtXiwBALRCNJTnX9ei87hUe4CITQ4lXXmLHakVjZB9Hs5RHtFBkf3egFWgaOcR_1xDirGFj53X7mtYWczCYJ7iEqj3qxSw5pFVkvMbFCURDVdhZCxkar_Av5pKSe8nWKY/s1600/grass.jpg" /></a></div><br />I've been staring at our front lawn coming up with landscaping plans. I apparently can't focus on one project, I need to take on a few to drive myself (and Aubrey) crazy.<br /><br />Our front yard is <i>significantly </i>better than when we first bought the house thanks to the amazing landscaping design of<a href="http://www.chandlerandco.ca/" target="_blank"> Bill Chandler</a> (who I think is one of Toronto's top landscape designers) I met him because he worked on my parents back garden and <a href="http://aubreyandlindsay.blogspot.ca/2011/10/front-walkway-happening-right-now.html" target="_blank">he helped us with our front walkway both with designing and installation.</a> Although Bill came up with a <a href="http://aubreyandlindsay.blogspot.ca/2011/01/landscaping-dreams-in-dead-of-winter.html" target="_blank">gorgeous planting plan</a> in addition to the stairs and walkway, we only did the stone work because budget. You can <a href="http://aubreyandlindsay.blogspot.ca/2011/10/evolution-of-exterior-of-house.html" target="_blank">see the evolution of the front of our house here.</a><br /><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br />Fast forward to today - the reason why I'm focusing on the landscaping again is because our front grass <i>never </i>survives. This is due to of a variety of elements- neighbours who don't weed (and therefore we get weeds no matter how much we do), too much sun, too little water.... Every Summer I curse as I'm pulling out crab grass or standing out there with a hose watering that it will be the<i> last year</i> I invest any money in trying to save the grass. I feel badly when it dies and everyone elses grass is so lush - be it that they have more shade, or maybe a better routine with watering? But everyone else seems to have wonderful lawns, when mine is brown and patchy.  A few weeks ago I walked outside to get the mail to see that racoons had torn up our lawn looking for grubs. And that was that - No more grass<i>. </i><br /><br />Thankfully the new walkway is probably the most major expense out of the front landscaping makeover - and that is done so we're just looking at doing some plantings. My idea is to add some plantings that have height and I keep going back to one l<a href="http://aubreyandlindsay.blogspot.ca/2011/04/curb-appeal.html" target="_blank">andscaping design I quite like from in our neighbourhood that I blogged about here. </a> This look is kind of what I'm thinking of doing....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhJ1ewvRc1sgMIaklv9LTJRo9S6Yb2_PYccOcQh8FqdUjyW6QA4PAxS2ag_DwYC3jZ-7ffZyuQv3qcjpKnCSG4BJBOs0gdRt8d5Nw6M-5C64s_mtEOuRgB_4H0S6B2kZBsTDpZVm70ks/s1600/grass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhJ1ewvRc1sgMIaklv9LTJRo9S6Yb2_PYccOcQh8FqdUjyW6QA4PAxS2ag_DwYC3jZ-7ffZyuQv3qcjpKnCSG4BJBOs0gdRt8d5Nw6M-5C64s_mtEOuRgB_4H0S6B2kZBsTDpZVm70ks/s1600/grass.jpg" /></a></div><br />They trees look like <a href="http://www.thestar.com/life/2013/03/22/serviceberry_an_easy_environmentally_friendly_tree_that_wont_become_a_hassle.html" target="_blank">serviceberry trees</a> which we have in our backyard and LOVE (<a href="http://aubreyandlindsay.blogspot.ca/2010/07/diy-privacy-screens-how-to-by-aubrey.html" target="_blank">see them in this post</a>) They have a beautiful bark colour, are branchy, produce edible berries and in the fall have the most gorgeous orange and yellow leaves. So my thought is to plant two or along the path. Perhaps three. I think it will give some height, privacy, and visual interest to our front yard.<br /><br />As a side note, I'm still a fan of this walkway spotted in our neighbourhood that I think is welcoming...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCMX-4kIQYN4E0LsoH0_zVJhtfcVCJ87Y27iv933bt8LvT90ixWljeQSU2CsnQx-KrT83w2GkpWbG_IJYNk-mfKaK5Vv_eyPLblMttcV23Wn9_KmBgc8wNkRpP2CVaHnEWvw2IK1Jrc8/s1600/grass2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCMX-4kIQYN4E0LsoH0_zVJhtfcVCJ87Y27iv933bt8LvT90ixWljeQSU2CsnQx-KrT83w2GkpWbG_IJYNk-mfKaK5Vv_eyPLblMttcV23Wn9_KmBgc8wNkRpP2CVaHnEWvw2IK1Jrc8/s1600/grass2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Isn't it beautiful? I think it would be relatively easy to recreate however I don't think I want to get into this level of construction. But I still think these "fences" are the most beautiful thing ever. Anyhow, that is my plan. I've promised Aubrey to hold off on digging up the front lawn until after he finishes demoing the bathroom.<br /><br />As I've been thinking about all of this I have realized that I think hiring a landscape designer in many cases is a great investment - they know what works well in different environments, what needs a lot of care, how plants change throughout the seasons. It's one of the reasons why I really liked <a href="http://www.hgtv.ca/dirtybusiness/" target="_blank">Dirty Business on HGTV</a> - they gave a great insight into that kind of thoughtful design. In our case, <a href="http://www.chandlerandco.ca/building.html" target="_blank">Bill's </a>walkway design was something I couldn't have envisioned or implemented myself so I'm so glad we hired him to do that part.<br /><br />Anyhow, that's my thoughts on the front landscaping! The next step is buying serviceberry trees and then digging up the grass. Well, after the bathroom that is. ;)<br /><br /><b>Other posts of interest:</b><br /><a href="http://aubreyandlindsay.blogspot.ca/2011/10/evolution-of-exterior-of-house.html" target="_blank">See the evolution of the front of our house here.</a><br /><a href="http://aubreyandlindsay.blogspot.ca/2011/01/landscaping-dreams-in-dead-of-winter.html" target="_blank">See Bill's planting guide for us</a><br /><a href="http://www.chandlerandco.ca/building.html" target="_blank">Bill Chandler Landscape Design </a>

I hate our grass - landscaping plans

I've been staring at our front lawn coming up with landscaping plans. I apparently can't focus on one project, I need to take on a f...

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