When we asked you to downsize, you delivered
The Winner: Sheila Schultz, Denver, Colorado
Fewer colors, more flair
We have intercourse this container for its simple-minded yet effectual spirit , its small industrial plant and people of color palette , and its fashionable elan . Sheila envisions the phormium as a mop of haircloth and the tillandsia as a raffish beret . The tillandsia is an atmosphere industrial plant , which does n’t even need land . Sheila ’s face planter was made by Campania International ( www.campaniainternational.com ) .
1.‘Thumbelina ’ phormium(Phormium‘Thumbelina ’ , USDA Hardiness Zones 8–11 )
2 . Tillandsia(Tillandsiaxerographica , Zone 11 )
weather condition : Full sun ; well - debilitate soil
Congratulations , Sheila!You advance a $ 250 talent credential from Bluestone Perennials ( www.bluestoneperennials.com ) and a beautiful container made out of reprocess materials from Pot , Inc. ( www.potinc.ca ) .
The Finalists
Cheryl Hopkins, Tipp City, Ohio
One flora , lots of style
Cheryl send in two designs , and both were selected as finalists . Here , she knew she need to design a water container , but when she potted up her container with this architectural horsetail upsurge , something was missing . add some rocks avail , but it was n’t until she started creating a design with the rocks that it all came together . She simply has to top off the water in the container throughout the time of year to keep the flora going strong .
1 . Horsetail rush(Equisetumsp . , zone 5–11 )
Conditions : Full Lord’s Day ; consistently wet dirt
Rebecca Gmucs, Orangeburg, New York
Rethinking a annual conception
Rebecca usually fills this 30 - inch - diam pot in her entrance with an abundance of flush and foliation , but last yr , she tone up it down a bit and decide on three striking foliage plants . The result is a impregnable , elementary pattern that is nonetheless sensational . All three plant life are depleted fuss . The medallion overwinters as a houseplant , as does the boat paddle plant , which can be divide to be used in other design next twelvemonth .
1 . Needle palm(Rhapidophyllum hystrix , Zones 8–10 )
2 . boat paddle plant(Kalanchoe thyrsiflora , Zone 11 )
3 . ‘ Blackie ’ sweetened potato vine(Ipomoea batatas‘Blackie ’ , Zone 11 )
status : Full sun ; moist , well - run out soil
Nancy Lowry Moitrier, Annapolis, Maryland
A one - metre investment
The beauty of this design , besides its sheer striking impact , is that the plants can be used year after class . The huge elephant ’s ear and the splashy caladium can be lifted and stored in the cellar until spring , and the jasmine can be brought indoors as a houseplant when the weather condition begin to cool . Nancy says that this container require minimum care — just cutting an casual evanesce leaf from the elephant ’s ear and watering twice a week .
1 . ‘ Maki ’ elephant ’s ear(Alocasia macrorrhiza‘Maki ’ , Zone 11 )
2 . Arabian jasmine(Jasminum sambac * , Zones 10–11 )
3 . Caladium(Caladium bicolorcv . , Zones 10–11 )
Amy Riggs, Wilsonville, Oregon
Three , two , one …
When Amy submitted this container for the challenge , her verbal description say it all : “ THREE vibrant color , TWO beautiful plants , ONE gorgeous container . ” This container might not be huge , but this planting has vast presence . It ’s a great warming stress planting for springtime and an unusual jazz band for the omnipresent pansy .
1 . ‘ Blackbird ’ spurge(Euphorbia‘Blackbird ’ , zone 6–9 )
2 . Pansy(Viola×wittrockianacv . , Zones 8–11 )
A superimposed approach
For her 2d container , Cheryl kept the people of colour palette simple . Green , mystifying burgundy , and whitened combine in layers to create a dramatic jazz band in a dark pot . Fewer colors and a layered arrangement stand for more focus on the beaut of the item-by-item plants and their effect on each other .
1 . ‘ Red Star ’ cordyline(Cordyline australis‘Red Star ’ , Zones 10–11 )
2 . ‘ Butterfly White ’ pentas(Pentas lanceolata‘Butterfly White ’ , one-year )
3 . ‘ Zwartkop ’ aeonium(Aeonium arboreum‘Zwartkop ’ , Zones 9–11 )
4 . Creeping telegram vine(Muehlenbeckia axillaris , Zones 8–10 )
Michelle Gervais is an associate editor .
To see more finalists , visitFineGardening.com/Containers2010 .
photograph : good manners of the contestants
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