Create a spring flower basket with extra plants
Sometimes it happens: The abundance of flowers and color enamor me, and I leave my trip to the greenhouse overflowing with far more plants than could be sqeezed into the garden. When you’re a plant fanatic, it’s hard to escape without a couple of those “not-sure-what-I'll-do-with-it-but-it's-so-gorgeous” choices.
If you find yourself with more plants than you have room for, here's a suggestion: Plant them up, and give them away in a spring basket flower arrangement!
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Upcycle a basket into a container
To make it really simple, search out an item around your home that can be upcycled into a container. This container was made out of an old basket. The handle was broken and easy to remove. Lining the basket with some landscape fabric keeps the soil from washing through the spaces of the weave and still allows for water to drain.
You might be surprised with the end results, and I’m sure the recipient will be thrilled to have a gift that lasts through the season — or, if perennials are used, even longer! Let me show you some more of the details.
Build color in your spring basket
The coral bells has a unique splash of pink across the burgundy leaves. The soft blush columbine is a perfect companion, highlighting the unusual color pattern. As the season goes on, the coral bells will darken from burgundy-red to dark burgundy-purple.
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Long-lasting arrangement
The great news is that this spring container hasn’t even reached its peak yet! The lupine buds are just beginning to show color, which means they will become the main event in a week or two, most likely as the columbine flowers begin to fade.
After the columbine and lupine finish blooming, they can be planted in the ground along with the coral bells and scotch moss. Next year, these perennials will return in spring to be a gift that keeps on giving.
Don’t forget the details
Because this container’s contents will eventually be added to the recipient’s garden, make sure you include the informative plant tags. This will help the gardener know what the plant names are, which area of the garden to plant them in and how to care for them. Put the tags in a plastic bag so they’re easy to keep track of. If you’re curious to know more about the plants and the planting plan, scroll down for more information.
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Spring flower basket Planting plan
A) Cape daisy (Osteospermum ecklonis Zion™ Red)
Type Tender perennial (usually grown as an annual) Blooms Deep red flowers in spring and fall Light Full sun to part shade Size 16 to 20 in. tall, 16 to 24 in. wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 10 to 11
B) Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris Carol Ann™)
Type Perennial Blooms Light pink double blooms in spring Light Full sun to part shade Size 24 to 30 in. tall, 12 to 18 in. wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8
C) Scotch moss (Sagina subulata ‘Aurea’)
Type Perennial Blooms Small white flowers in spring to late summer Light Full sun to part shade Size 1 to 2 in. tall, 12 to 15 in. wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8
D) Lupine (lupinus polyphyllus Mini Gallery™ Red)
Type Perennial Blooms Fuchsia-red spikes in late spring to early summer Light Full sun to part shade Size 14 to 16 in. tall, 7 to 10 in. wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8
E) Coral bells (Heuchera ‘Galaxy’)
Type Perennial Blooms White flowers in late spring and summer, burgundy-red foliage that deepens to a dark burgundy-purple Light Full sun to part shade Size 9 to 14 in. tall, 10 to 14 in. wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9