By Lisa Newman, Art Director

On a visit to North Hill (Wayne Winterrowd and Joe Eck's Vermont garden) a few years ago, I noticed all of the great container plantings throughout the gardens. I finally saw beyond the potted geranium. Suddenly the idea that I could have tropical plants in containers, that I could move plants around during the summer months to fill in holes in the garden, that I could use containers in groups along the side of the house in lieu of the dreaded foundation plants—well it was a whole new world opening up before me. I went home and started a garden of containers.

But then came the problem of storage and over wintering. This year it sort of came to a head. I’ve run out of places to stash the plants. I asked everyone how they handled this problem. One piece of advice stuck: Edit the plants down to those that will over-winter well and are deserving of the space.

So this year, I have brought in all of the containers but have not kept all of the plants. A few of the larger leggy plants have been brought down in size—I rooted cuttings that I can nurse throughout the winter. I began to realize that what I need to learn to do is to create an indoor garden that I enjoy rather than indoor storage that just torments me every time I look at it.

Until I get a bigger house or a better set of skills I think I’ll use the winter as an excuse to rethink what I have, to start over with new plants come spring, and to try my luck at propagation. Here’s
hoping for success and spring—when I can move it all outside where the plants and the “gardener” will be happier.

1/11/2008 4:48:49 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0]