I just couldn’t make the leap to water gardening last year and still don’t feel the undeniable urge this year to find the answers to all the questions I still have, so the intended water garden, a 3X2 foot steel tank found at a local flea market, has been planted.
The few small holes in the bottom that were plugged for the water garden were unplugged, some gravel added, then lots of compost and bagged potting soil.
Easy stuff like the dwarf Verbena bonariensis ‘Lollipop’ will be part of the experiment, plus a couple Eryngium tripartitum, which I’m not even sure will bloom their first year. Tough, slim, and diaphanous is the idea.
I just hate having a perfectly good container go unplanted.
Besides, that wonderful patina cries out for a mini-urban-prairie-in-a-boxcar experiment.
Funny how I thought there’d be room for lots more than just five plants, at least a couple grasses.
Research on a 3X2 water garden continues…
I love that planter…so much character! I have to admit, as I’m running out of actual ground this year, I’m going to have to start using planters as well. Spaces like that are always so much bigger in our imaginations, aren’t they? I hope you like the Verbena…I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it was…and for some reason, it didn’t suffer from PM (unlike it’s taller cousins)…and you know it takes A LOT for me to recommend a dwarf version of ANYTHING!
Scott, I admit I was surprised to learn your back garden is nearly done — you are almost out of space! And that’s so funny about dwarf plants. I’ve been contemplating a post about some good ones that aren’t the usual crimes, like a compact Convolvulus sabatius or licorice plant/helichrysum, compact santolinas, etc.
I miss my water lillies–the koi ate them. Water gardens are like any other container–the bigger they are, the easier they are (except for moving them). That is such a beautiful container, does it matter what’s in it? It’s wonderful. Here’s to patina!
Hoov, I need to go through your back pages for water garden info. You make it sound so easy.
I am in love with that container. The perfect size, the perfect patina. Glad you decided to plant it up.