by Melody on July 7, 2019

Oh my, what a busy couple of weeks! All the rain we have been getting is wonderful (I've barely had to water) but the weeds have growing just as quickly as the plants in my flowerbeds. I have been weeding like crazy and trying to mulch in my beds with leaves I've had piled up in my compost bin for the last several months.

The rain is starting to come in less frequently and the temperatures are starting to hit in the 90s – the mulch will really help with keeping those roots cool and holding the moisture in.

I did get one new project done though and it turned out way better than I thought it would – my little metal table is now a planter! Here is the before picture:



I cut a hole in the top with some sort of power tool that I borrowed – it had a blade and that's all I know about it! I painted the table, a metal trellis, and an empty watering can (with drainage holes drilled in the bottom) in a matching color – Rust-Oleum's 2X "Gloss Key Lime" – a paint and primer in one.



I then placed a 14" plastic terra cotta colored pot into the hole, added soil and the trellis, and finally the plants. I used one plant each of Thunbergia "Sunny Lemon Star" and "Sunny Orange Star" to climb up the trellis – these thunbergias bloom spring through fall in a sunny location and have rather large blooms with a beautiful black eye on a 5' tall plant. Around the edges of the pot I used Lantana "Lucky Sunrise Rose" – one of my favorite lantanas, it shows hot rose, gold, and tangerine all at once – changing colors as flowers open and then fade.

This planter is now right beside my front door and it is very eye-catching. The watering can beside it is planted with Angelonia "Archangel Purple" – and it is blooming beautifully. I will post another picture of this once the orange thunbergia has opened as only the yellow is blooming now.



I was originally going to use Begonia "Sparks Will Fly" in this project but decided against because I really wanted to put this table in full sun – Sparks Will Fly needs a bit of shade. I did however go ahead and get one – such an irresistible plant! It is now planted in a pretty teal pottery bowl and sitting on my covered porch. This plant can get to a height and width of 15-18" and really brightens up a shady location.



Well, I am off to mulch again – I do not mind because I have so much fun being outside with my plants – it is so peaceful and relaxing and I am always finding new ideas for things I would like to change or add.

Tonight I am going to try and paint that flower pot that is holding my Portulaca Maraca – I have never painted an unfinished clay pot before so we'll see how that turns out!