It's my party and I'll shop if I want to....

....shop if I want to....you would shop too....
OK, I'll stop...yes, it's my birthday!  Forever, I've celebrated my birthday with flowers.  In this part of Virginia, last frost is definitely past by the middle of April, so it's finally time to get planting!

Today's project centered around this;  I've held on to this cute little boy-sized wheelbarrow for a few years; you can see it got plenty of use in it's years.  Now I've decided to re-purpose it into a new planter.

First issue for a planter is drainage.  I checked my drill bits, and they were good on metal, so I drilled away and put three holes in the lowest part of the "planter".

Too big...

Placing flowers is sort of like decorating: you have to think of color, height, and how they will all look together.  I also wanted a focal point, and picked out these bright orange gerbera daisies.  I picked out yellow in a few varieties because I thought it would be a good contrast against the red.  After that, I just play, moved around and around, and finally I'll have something I'm happy with.

empty space before.....

Cute space after!

The yellow lobelia will cascade over the front and hopefully look like a waterfall effect, with bits of orange white and yellow behind.   As things grow in, there may be a plant or two that will have to come out and be transplanted someplace else; it's fun though to have it look full right away.  Part of the fun of gardening for me is moving things around all season, so that's no issue!

If you feel like you'll get overwhelmed at the garden center, be sure to read the tags.  They will tell you everything you need to know about the plant:

• Sun requirements: Plants that need sun will not bloom in the shade, and plants that thrive in the shade will wilt in the sun.  There are some plants that are "draught tolerant", which is great in the dogs days of summer.
• Water needs: you can see this one says "low once established", which is a great thing!
• Spacing and growth rate: If it says space 18 inches apart, this gives you an idea of how big the plant will be at maturity.
• Bloom time: Will it bloom in the spring and be done? Or bloom all summer?  Try to have a variety of bloom times and colors in your garden.  If all your plants bloom in the spring and are done, your garden will be boring in June.
• Pruning: Honestly, I don't prune a lot. I like low maintenance gardening.  This will tell you though if certain plants will bloom again if you continue to "deadhead"  or pick off old blooms.  Also, there are plants that can be cut back mid season for a second bloom time in the fall. 

Pay attention to all of these when you are picking out plants and it will make your selection so much easier.  If you can't handle all the options, stick with sun requirements!

But....I have to say, after all these years of flower gardening, my best advice is this: Plant it, water it, take care of it.  It lives or it doesn't, then move on and try something else. 

Most of all, enjoy it!