Arrangements to last all summer

It's so nice to be able to enjoy warm weather. Soaking up sunshine does my body good after a longish winter. My knockout roses are looking amazing this week! I trimmed them earlier than usual and am so glad I did. I've been sprinkling Epsom salts around the base to help with encourage more blooms (thank you, Granny!).

Part of my Mother's Day surprise was picking out flowers to plant. I was on the hunt for snapdragons, my favorite flower, but had no such luck. I had two planters to fill that would be in direct sunlight. I've been dragging this concrete planter around for 3 states. So thankful the movers have been so gentle with it!

This planter is full of cream & red coreopsis (a perennial that can be replanted in a flowerbed in the fall), red star cordyline, salvia, marigolds, petunias, and golden moneywort. Mixing height, flower color, and leaf color catches the eye. These flowers all do well with 6+ hours of direct sun. What do you think? I could spend hours in the lawn and garden department. My husband may or may not have had to drag me out! Haha.

This old milking pail ($7 at an antique store!) also works perfectly as a rustic planter. I drilled a few holes in the bottom for drainage and also added a thin layer of rocks from the driveway.

This planter is full of English lavender (and will have a beautiful purple bloom), salvia, multi-colored petunias, and marigolds. The bare spot in the front has tiny rosemary plants growing.

Add dimension to your arrangements by mixing plant and leaf colors and don't be afraid to use unlikely planters (like an old milking pail). I can't wait to see what you come up with!