At our front door, I have two large grey urns on the verandah and when we first moved back into our renovated home I planted them out with a very pretty pink Cordyline called ‘Pink Passion‘. They looked great in those grey urns and provided a pop of colour against the grey render of our home which has white trim. Trouble is, they grew and unevenly too so this week, my OCD about having symmetry at the front door was kicking in very badly. I bit the bullet and removed two perfect healthy plants, hopefully for a better outcome. My husband was not 100% for this decision, I have to say.
So, a hard decision that literally took months of thought…I know, I know first world problems and all that but it’s important to make the right decision, Hey, those Cordylines have been there for 7 years! Don’t you think it’s insane the way we hang onto some plants and we’re not quite sure why? I mean those Cordylines only cost me $14.99 each and I hung onto them despite not bringing me joy for a very long time! We don’t think twice about chucking out a bunch of flowers that we pay $20 for at the supermarket that barely lasts a week!
I decided in the end, nothing is forever, right and that I would install 2 rusty obelisks into the urns for some added interest and I’m happy with those. Now, what to plant on them? I have gone with Stephanotis, a fragrant (deliciously tropical), evergreen woody, white flowering climber with a deep glossy green leaf. It’s a native of Madagascar, so exotic! People often use this bloom in wedding bouquets, not that we have one of those coming up but just in case, I will be prepared. I am hoping that even though these don’t get direct sun in their location that they will thrive there as they get heaps of light and it is a warmish spot. So, Stephanotis is my THRILLER.
Around the base, I have planted pale white and pink annual Impatiens, which a nice and soft and they are my FILLER.
Hanging over the front I have left the plant that was there with the Cordylines, Nigella damascena (purple)or love -in-a mist, which I never really loved but will stay there for now until I find something to replace it. That’s my SPILLER for now.
This week, we had a situation out the back and the chains rusted out on the hanging basket filled with geraniums which were, I have to say in full blooming glory and so I have had to buy new baskets, fill with new potting mix, take a heap of cuttings and replant them all and hang them up. Wrong time of the year, completely because it’s so darn hot, but sometimes you just have to do what you have to do, despite the season. They will be full again and blooming by Easter-time (fingers crossed).
I’m off to go straighten those obelisks…I see in the photos they are slightly wonky!
Have a great week, try and stay as cool as you can and get out into nature…you will feel so good!
