Rita Randolph

Rita Randolph

Rita Randolph has had a knack for assembling potted gardens since she was a teenager working at her parent’s greenhouse in central Tennessee. Today, with the help of her husband, she continues to create gorgeous containers as the second-generation owner and operator of Randolph’s Greenhouses. Rita has studied at the New York Botanical Garden and is former president of the Tennessee Flower Growers Association. After the busy spring rush, Rita can often be found on the road as a popular gardening speaker.

  • spring container designs
    Design

    Welcome Spring with These Container Designs

    Spring is the start of it all—the time when everything you have dreamed about since last year becomes possible. These possibilities come alive with your first plant picks of the…

  • combinations for fall containers
    Design

    Cold-Weather Combinations for Fall Containers

    I don’t agree with gardeners who think fall and winter are the time to throw in the towel. Oncoming cooler weather tells me it’s time to find a warm place…

  • summer container plants
    Design

    Exciting Container Plants for Summer

    I’m particularly fond of big, gaudy plants, but I like teeny tiny ones too. Large-leaved tropical plants really take the heat and can do wonders for planters around pool decks…

  • fall container plants
    Design

    Unexpected Container Plants for Fall

    Fall and winter give me the opportunity to start over with my container designs, even though we associate this time with the end of the growing season. My favorite plants…

  • Container Plants for Spring
    Design

    Great Container Plants for Spring

    It is next to impossible to pick my favorite spring plants for containers. So I imagine that my greenhouse is on fire: If I only had time to grab an…

  • designing containers
    Design

    How to Design Great Containers at the Nursery

    A little experimenting at the nursery yields better combinations at home

  • Begonias
    Design

    Rex Begonias

    A guide to growing, care, and propagation of rex begonias, plus some great cultivars

  • Potting Soil Recipe for Woody Plants and Perennials
    How-To

    Potting Soil Recipe for Woody Plants and Perennials

    Just as creating a healthy soil environment is crucial for your in-ground plants, providing a suitable growing medium for your container plants is a key factor to success. Most gardeners…

  • picking the perfect planter pot
    Design

    Select the Plants, Then Find a Pot

    In her article "Designing Great Containers," Rita Randolph of Randolph's Greenhouses in Jackson, Tennessee, writes: It doesn’t take long for a fun adventure at the local garden center or greenhouse to…

  • container planting in a beautiful blue pot
    Design

    How to Pick the Right Plants to Accentuate the Container

    Whether you're new to container gardening or are a seasoned pro, you may find that a visit to your local garden center or greenhouse is an overwhelming and frustrating experience.…