HOW SIMPLE GARDEN CONTAINERS CAN CREATE A SPRING ENTRY

When we first moved to our townhome in Florida, I really got into container gardening. The grounds around the townhome were hard to dig into - I'd hit coral rock inches after digging through ground cover and dirt. Flash forward to living here in Arizona, and I still experience the same hard ground to dig into (mainly red rock due to droughts), plus the added challenge of finding flowering annuals that can also take the dry heat. For our first Spring here in AZ, I potted several colorful flowering plants on our stoop, and it looked great - for a few days - then most started to wilt and die. The same thing happened last year: I either over water or under water and the pretty potted plants die. This year, I kept it simple by only buying one type of flowering plant, I've seen regularly thriving in flowerbeds at entries here in Phoenix: Petunias. Since I refreshed some of my containers I had painting them black & white, it still created a fresh crisp look - and layering in more greens (I also already had) helped to create a refreshing and simple Spring stoop entry...

 

I had picked up these galvanized containers while thrifting back in November. You can read how I painted them on my previous post at,

Painted French Market Flower Buckets - Before & After

 

Last year, I had also put potted plants out on the two outer ledges flanking the steps, but since the sun has shifted, and shines on this spot at our hottest part of the day, I skipped doing it this year. Here's a look back + links to previous Spring entries I've made with container gardening...

 

The two large urns I use are old window display props. They are made of fiberglass and are easy to move + paint. Most of the other posts I've collected through the years, mostly from Big Lots. I like their shape, but not their color, so I usually paint them. I like using  lanterns to create interest and height in the container mix - and i usually pop out the glass (especially helpful when refreshing with paint). I usually find most of my lanterns I use from HomeGoods.

 

You can read how to create a Spring style stoop at  my previous post, 

Rental ReStyle: Spring on the Stoop

 

You can also see my Florida Spring Container (image 28) - plus other & tips - at HGTV.com's

30 Small Space Gardening Tips for Apartment Dwellers and Urbanites

This was my Spring Stoop I did last year, also with containers...

 

 

Although this years containers are more simple, it still works to create a welcoming entry, for Easter and Spring. The white petunias and green asparagus ferns are from Home Depot. The petunias I picked up for Spring, but the fern I picked up back in December Yay! Something green grew here in AZ - other than cacti! :)

Do you do any container gardening where you live? 

Or is it still snowing by you? This should warm you up: we already experienced 100 degree temps just this week in AZ! Containers at the door help frame the entry + give it personality...

Happy gardening and thanks for stopping by!

 

PAINTED FRENCH FLOWER MARKET BUCKETS - BEFORE & AFTER

During the holiday season last November, I lucked out and scored these great French Flower Market Buckets while thrifting. During Christmas, I left them in their natural galvanized finished. For Spring, I painted them two-toned black & white, a better contrast for our front entryway. Last Spring, I had done this finish to the large urn I already have at the entry: painted the base black and just the top quarter white. Painting this treatment now to the galvanized containers created a more cohesive look. Rather than being all black, the white banded tops set a nice contrast for a crisp look that will work for both Spring & Summer. Since the flowers I've planted for our Spring Stoop the past two years here in Arizona have died (from the heat) within two weeks, I did less flowers and more green - still a fresh look for Spring and Summer...

 

Here's what I did...

 

Cleaned and pre-drilled holes in container bottoms...

 

I sprayed on a FLAT black from Rustoleum - and just rough brushed on the white to the tops, and inside tops too...

 

After the paint dried, I sanded off some of the patina from the handles to reveal a little copper glow...

 

I cleaned and refreshed the larger urns. During holiday, I had painted over the white with black - now they're back to their white tops...

 

  I found these French flower market buckets at Goodwill, during a Super Saturday Sale, so they were 50% off. A floral shop had closed and donated a TON of these containers to Goodwill. I bought four: two medium and two large. The two medium containers also still had the black plastic reservoir insert I was able to use (in reverse) inside the large container, as a riser for the plants...

While I painted the galvanized containers, I also refreshed a few existing containers with the same finish to use in the back yard (last year, I had used the pots on the right for my Spring Stoop...

 

I use rocks in the bottoms of the containers as weight, and I use them in the bottoms of the planter, before adding potting soil + plants. The rocks help with drainage. The white flowers are simple petunias I picked up at home Depot (my mother use to call me that - Petunia)They were a pretty reasonable deal during their Spring Black Friday Event: 5 pks of 8 for only $10. Since they're white, I'll be able to use them both in the back yard and front stoop for my Spring Spruce-Up...

 

 The containers helped to create a simple Spring stoop... Here's a peek:

 Happy Spring & Thrifting!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Welcoming Spring With a Garden Container Outdoor Entry

When we moved into our townhome in Florida, I learned about container gardening. It was a great solution to add color to our house front or patio, without having to dig into the not so soft ground (mostly coral rock). Over the years in Florida, I had grown and nurtured several plants, but because of state laws, I was unable to take any of the plants with me when we moved here to Arizona. Although I gave away most of my plants to friends and family, I did keep several of the containers. Refreshing the containers with a quick cleaning and a fresh coat of paint helped spare the expense of having to start totally all over again... All I needed to do was invest in a few flowering plants to give our now stacked stone stoop a shot of color for Spring.

Even though I don't have the same front landscape, I am still keeping true to my style reusing lanterns as planters, and using rich pinks and purples... which also transition well into summer. Here's a peek back at some container gardening I did back at our FL townhome from Springs past...

Reusing my Winter / Fall branches (now 2 years old) by simply wrapping with faux blossoms from Michael's helped give height to the stoop entrance and frame the door. Last Spring, I also wrapped the branches w/blossoms, but I had them inside our living room (for Fall, I've hot glued fall leaves to the branches). I only bought 4 blossom sprays, at $4.99 each - BUT they were 50% off! (woo-hoo!) Again, this was a great way to save money, but still create a welcoming spring entrance on a budget. I had seen two beautiful and tall jasmine topieries also at Home Depot, but they were $20 each.

Reusing what I had:

2 large lanterns (@ $20 ea.) refreshed black

2 small lanterns (@ @12 ea) refreshed black

2 large containers (@ $18 ea) refreshed ORB + black

2 terracotta pots (@ $7 ea) refreshed gold

2 bamboo detailed post (@ $8 ea) refreshed semi-gloss black

2 small basket weave posts (@ $6 ea) used as riser

2 small containers inside lanterns (@ $.99 ea) just cleaned

Golden Egg Wreath (thrift + diy LY) repaired + refreshed antique gold

2 large urns (free & previously used in LR or DR) just cleaned

2 outdoor pink metal garden bunnies (@ $7 ea) refreshed in white (but need to do gold)

branches - found on side of the road 2 years ago in FL

green moss for filler - reused from Easter tablescapes LY

simple season less doormat - just cleaned

wiped down front door, railing & light fixture w/Old English furniture polish

wiped off scuffs from front step w/Magic Erase

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approx. $160 savings

Plants invested in:

2 Bougainvillea @ 8.88 ea

2 Pinks @ 3.98 ea

2 purple daisies @ 3.98 ea

2 batches of mini white flowers split into 4 pots  @ 4.98 ea batch

4 faux blossom sprays at Michael's on sale @ 2.50 ea

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approx $55 seasonal garden investment

If you're renting, like we are, floral filled outdoor containers are a great little Spring Spruce-up for outside, to welcome family home with color, as well as say "Happy Spring!" to your neighborhood. This weekend is the perfect weekend for your outdoor Spring Spruce-ups because you can save even more money shopping at Home Depot's annual SPRING BLACK FRIDAY event!

Happy Spring and thanks for visiting!

LINKING POST TO:

My Romantic Home - Show & Tell Friday

The Shabby Nest - Frugal Friday

Thrifty Decor Chic - April Before & After Party

The DIY Showoff - Project Parade

Under the Table & Dreaming - Sunday Showcase

Between Naps On the Porch - Metamorphosis Monday

A Stroll Thru Life - Tabletop Tuesday

The Shabby Creek Cottage - Transformation Thursday

Somewhat Simple - Strut Your Stuff Link-up

Funky Junk Interiors - Spring Decorating