Pot Luck

Author: Nancy Erdmann

Issue: October, 2008, Page 164

BOWLED OVER
A stepped privacy wall comes alive with wok-style pots filled with Agave gypsophila and elephant’s food (Portulacaria afra). Not only does this combo create a striking vignette, it also adds an architectural element to the landscape.

SUN SAVVY
The hot summer sun and reflected light play big roles in the Southwest landscape, so choose your plants wisely. In this poolside setting, a mix of cobalt-blue and coffee-color pots holds heat-loving aloe, artemisia (a natural bug repellent), mammillaria, sedge grass, sedum and vinca. TIP: Buy containers made of Asian clay (labeled “Made in China”) or Italian terra cotta, as these are more durable.

FLOOR SHOW
“Whenever there’s an elevation change, such as stairs, it’s a good idea to mark the area as a safety precaution,” says Theresa Prebish of Enchanted Garden Inc. To resolve the issue on these patio steps, shiny bronze-color containers were grouped together, which created a focal point that’s hard to miss. TIP: Use plants of varying heights, hues and textures to set off a cluster of matching pots.

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