Beautify pre-season with lavish planters of colorful annuals

During the difficult birth of true spring — with labor pains of snow, then rain and mud, then a freeze — followed by maybe one (or even two!) sunny days that may be anywhere between the 20s or near-50s, and often repeated ad infinitum until mid-April — gardeners everywhere gnash their teeth and/or simply grin and bear it. Generally without the grin.

A fabulous answer is at hand! Our illustrations show just the beginning possibilities for n a gorgeous display of varied annuals — flowers, leaves and colors to tempt our thoughts to more positive activity.

The contents of the pictured “drama pot” include: Fuchsia, Begonias, varied Coleus, and a couple of unidentified others, possibly sweet potato vine.

The red-potted trio shows the power of numbers — with the obvious conclusion that size also matters! Use small or large or staggered sizes for fabulous drama. Such plantings are so easily made, with such obvious success, that it would seem a no-brainer to put one together. And what better time than now, while we’re all in quarantine anyway?

By the way, once you’ve made your purchases, prepared your containers with soil and are ready to plant, be ready for possible surprises when un-polttong. Our pathetic little pot-bound pansy is easily rescued, by ruthless ripping away of its own strangling roots. (Gentle “ripping” of course). Place your purchases artistically in their new pots, give them a good drink, and let them settle in, making sure their location is protected from the ravages of the weather.

In planning your potted display, location makes all the difference. It must be under cover, so you want it on a your porch or perhaps a gazebo or even under a long-eaved location. If at eye-level site, you can opt for a blowsy, rounded mélange of color with perhaps with an upright “spike” of some sort in the center. You may also opt for a mounded group of plants — as per our illustration. If you plan on a hanging basket, you’ll want some lovely danglers as well — petunias, Sweet peas, ferny greenery — etc. Since primroses are generally perennial, you may want to re-plant them in your permanent garden later.

Since this is generally an annual “parade”, don’t be afraid to include some pretty edibles. Tarragon is pretty, as are many of the colorful and/or variegated basils, and chives with their pretty purple heads can be attractive too. Hangers can include many annual beauties from Sweet peas, petunias, nasturtiums and the afore-mentioned Sweet potato vine.

For sheer color and beauty, I’ve got to say that nothing beats the glory of Coleus: Reds, pinks, purples, wines, greens from lime to emerald, variegated, striped and many-sized, it is always a winner.

Don’t forget pansy pots! Last year, mine delighted me the entire summer with boundless colors, their sweet, fragrant little kitten-faces following the sun across the sky- and tough as nails in every kind of weather. Pansies come in myriad sizes and colors –from giant floppy-petaled baby-faced beauties, to mid-size and smaller cultivators. Winners, every time in every weather.

Do I have your attention yet? Locally, Nancy and her crew at All Seasons are on the job with early arriving plants for potting, as is the staff at Ponderay Gardens . Sadly, the Florasape Nursery at Cocolalla is closing, since owner-manager Manuela has decided it’s time to retire. We gardeners will miss her expertise and wish her well. Yokes flower center is open and busy — featuring locally-grown plants. I do not recommend non-local nursery sources, and urge you to buy from locally procured plants that are free of any “imported” problems that might be encountered at big box stores. Don’t be afraid to ask the attendant where the flowers came from! Bee and butterfly-killing Neonics have made their way into some of them, and it only takes one poison plant to wipe out your beneficial insect (and possibly hummingbird) population in your area. Read the bottom of the label that is pushed into the soil — it often provides that information. There’s too much poison being eased into our lives and gardeners must be cautious for the sake of our environment, not to mention our health.

I hope today’s suggestions ring a bell for some of you — nothing takes our mind off our troubles like flowers. Let’s lavish their precious beauty at our homes and remember that this, too, shall pass!

Valle Novak writes the Country Chef and Weekend Gardener columns for the Daily Bee. She can be reached at bcdailybee@bonnercountydailybee.com. or by phone at 208-265-4688 between the hours of 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.