I finished the pots I posted about previously. The pots fit beautifully into their settings and definitely complement the landscaping and home. I used plants that will provide some great winter color and texture. Winter color can be challenging anywhere but in NC gardeners do have many options.
Two pots were added to the front porch turning matching pairs of pots into threesomes. The four pots weren’t enough for the large, gracious entry of this traditional brick home. I had already potted the existing containers when the new ones arrived. Standard dwarf ginkgos were used to add some vertical interest–and as something very unique. I reused some variegated ivy to spill from the pots with the ginkgos. The smaller pots got a mixture of pansies, snapdragons, ornamental kale, Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’ and Sedum tetractinum. I used the same plants in the new pots but added some variegated boxwoods as a permanent accent. The boxwoods, quite small now, will grow to add substance and year-round color to the planters. 
The Ginkgos will lose their leaves, but will be perfect for some winter lights to brighten the porch.
Two more pots were installed in the back woodland garden next to a gazebo. These pots replaced some old half barrel planters that were rotting away. Removing those was a bit more work than I’d expected. Ferns, variegated ivy and a few more plants were growing in these planters. The ivy had escaped going right into the ground and even growing up and under the gazebo. I removed all of the plants, soil and the rotting wood. There were even rocks that had been in the bottom of the barrels. The new pots were quite a bit taller than the barrels. I trashed the ivy and planted the ferns and some Epimedium between the pots and the gazebo. The large growing ferns will soften the space and be lovely next year. A fall blooming Japanese Anemone was growing with a fern and that was planted also. It has room to spread around and will bloom better out of the pot.
The new pots got evergreen Autumn Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora), Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis), Epimedium, some miniature Narcissus and a few Pansies. The Lenten Rose had been growing (rather poorly) in the barrel planters.
All of these containers are irrigated with drip lines. This makes maintenance much easier. It is hard to hide the black 1/4″ tubing, but as the plants grow and fill in, they are hard to notice. The tubing can be routed through the drainage holes in the pots which can make them less noticeable. I do hope the homeowners are happy with their new pots. It’ll be fun planting them again in the spring.
