Garden Photo of the Day

Container Planting Inspiration From Katie

Contained creations by a talented designer

container next to a garden bench with purple and yellow flowers

Today we’re visiting with Katie Verdieck in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Katie is a landscape designer, and she specializes in creating beautiful containers. They’re great inspiration for every gardener because no matter how big or small your garden space is, you have room for another container!

window box container with pink and purple flowersThis lovely container is focused almost entirely on shades of purple from both flowers and foliage. Katie recommends planting containers very densely to give a nice full effect right from day 1.

container next to a garden bench with purple and yellow flowersSoft yellow zinnias (Zinnia × marylandica, annual) contrast beautifully with purple foliage and flowers. The addition of lavender (Lavandula × intermedia, Zones 5–8) makes this container smell wonderful, especially if you brush past it.

close up of a container with diverse foliage plants and yellow flowersThere is something about yellow and white together. Here, yellow begonia (Begonia hybrid, Zones 10–11 or as an annual) pairs perfectly with the white leaves of a caladium (Caladium hybrid, Zones 8–11 or as a tender bulb).

close up of container with colorful foliage and white flowersThis white begonia flower is gorgeous, and it shows off even stronger for being paired with dark-leaved coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides, Zones 10–11 or as an annual) and heuchera (Heuchera hybrid, Zones 5–9). A caladium with dark red–spotted white leaves further emphasizes the color combination.

close up of purple and yellow pansy flowersIt’s hard to beat a big flat full of showy pansies (Viola × wittrockiana, cool season annual) in full bloom. Pansies can take freezing weather and so are great choices for winter plantings in mild climates and early spring plantings.

tiny snowdrop flowers next to black ornamental grassSnowdrops (Galanthus species, Zones 3–7) are always a welcome sign of spring, but look how amazing they look against the dark leaves of black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’, Zones 5–9).

winter container with cut branches and evergreen plantsIn winter, you can change out the annuals for potted shrubs, evergreen perennials, and cut branches to make a beautiful display. If the cut branches brown and fade, just pull them out and replace them with fresh ones.

If you want to see more of Katie’s beautiful creations, check out her instagram: @thegardeness

 

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Comments

  1. User avater
    simplesue 09/15/2022

    Beautiful container arrangements!
    I especially loved the simplicity and contrast of the Snowdrops amongst the Black Mondo Grass!

    1. User avater
      treasuresmom 09/15/2022

      Sue, do you get emails yet?

  2. User avater
    treasuresmom 09/15/2022

    Very pretty.

  3. user-7392754 09/15/2022

    I really love this post! Every container is gorgeous! And thank you for the descriptions and hints with each. I wish there were more and more pics and descriptions!!

  4. btucker9675 09/15/2022

    Love them all, but especially the snowdrops against the black mondo grass - stunning!

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