Window Boxes

We got the window boxes planted yesterday.

When I say "we", I mean the the royal "we"
because every year for Mother's Day,
Mr. Grand plants the window boxes for me...

I love flowers and I love gardens 

but I don't actually like gardening, or dirt or worms or bending and stooping....

I think I'm actually a better supervisor than worker! 

I like to pick out all of the flowers and design the containers

but the planting, no, not for me. 

Luckily, Mr. Grand enjoys a good project

and suffers my supervision with good humor.  Usually.

These window boxes are pretty wide- over six feet each, 

and so we divide them up into three liners in each box.

Then we set out all of the plants into my vague design and see what will fit.

I may possibly have bought more flowers than we needed, 

but there are always other containers looking for flowers around here.

Mr. Grand had some help this year...

See that orange flag off on the right?

It means that

Darling Daughter is home from her first year of college, 

just in time for Mother's Day!  

Mr. Grand always flies the Illini Flag when she comes home.  

Our son came home to visit, too!
Oh, Happy day!

Back to the window boxes...  

I try to use flowers that do well in part/a lot of shade, 

like Geraniums, Coleus, Impatiens and Sweet Potato vines.

I also try to follow the rule for container gardens- 

there needs to be a thrill, the fill and the spill.

The dark, gorgeous deep rasberry Geraniums are the thrill,

the pale pink Impatiens and the multi-colored Coleus are the fill   

and the Sweet Potato vines are the spill.

You can just see the Coleus in this shot.
It's small now, but usually gets big and colorful in these boxes.

And the Sweet Potato vines will grow long
and spill down the front and sides of the boxes.

They all go well with these hanging Geraniums 

and look nice against the white of the house.

The contrast from the Fall colors is amazing...

Aren't those oak trees absolutely majestic?

And isn't Mother Nature Just*Grand?

Linking to:
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
That DIY Party at DIY Show Off
Weekend Bloggy Reading at Serenity Now
Masterpiece Monday at BoogieBoard Cottage
Make The Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill
Monday Funday at Uncommon Designs
More The Merrier Monday at DIY Home Sweet Home
Sunday Showcase Party at Stephanie Lynne
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
The Scoop at Cedar-Hill Ranch
Pretty Things Link Party at TwelveoEight
Trendy Tuesday at Sweet Little Gals
Tutorials and Tips at Home Stories A to Z
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Fabulously Creative Link Party at Jennifer Rizzo