Window boxes of London

Now that the first day of spring has arrived, it is time to turn our attention to the beautiful possibilities that lie ahead for our 2016 gardens. This year, I’m thinking of adding a couple of window box-type planters to the front porch railing.

We had two gorgeous English “hayrack” window baskets at our home in Maryland, gifts from my late mother-in-law. I’m scratching my head as to why we didn’t bring them with us to the mountains. On second thought, removing them may have damaged the windowsills on the front of house. Or they may have been considered a part of the structure. At least we noted in the listing that our obelisk “did not convey.”

So during my travels, I like to look at window boxes and see what goodies people are planting. My trip to Nantucket was a real eye-opener. I wrote about the amazing boxes there in November of 2013. If you click on the word “Nantucket” above and check out the posting, you’ll see they used a variety of clever materials in their boxes from caladiums to cabbage. It all worked.

I didn’t think much could top those head-turners, until I visited London last September. Wow.

 

I love the way they used hydrangeas for fall boxes

Very cool draped ivy

 

The second floor of the house above. The bust and flowers make a great combo!

Take a break from the window boxes for a pick-me-up!

Sweet!

Detail of the wooden door carvings

Of course if you are going to grow these magnificent displays, you can’t just lay back and eat bonbons. I chatted with the pub owner who is climbing the ladder to water his boxes and he needs to get up there twice a day during warm weather. Otherwise the boxes will dry out in a jiffy.

You also don’t want to be timid. We Americans tend to follow instructions and put a plant 8” away from another if that’s what it says on the tag. “Mais non!” gardeners told me in in Annecy, France. Stuff as many plants in there as possible! That’s how they create their luscious boxes and baskets.

That appears to be the strategy in London as well. The flowers there were traffic stoppers. And even phone boxes rate a smashing, color-coordinated hanging basket.