Planters High on the Deck Renewed

The herb planter sat in the garage all winter and the herbs survived: rosemary, two sages, a thyme --and two Gerbera daisies and a chrysanthemum that weren't even planted in the soil!  I replaced the soil with some Espoma Organic potting mix and replanted the herbs and flowers.  I bought fresh rosemary and moved the old rosemary to the lower patio herb planters.  I saved two sages and replanted them and moved another sage and the thyme to the lower herb planters also. I keep two herb boxes for texture and scent down below the deck on the patio. They don't get quite enough sun (only mornings) but they do provide a wonderful scent when brushed. I also have chives and some lemon mint in those boxes.  I added some parsley and some basil in my "kitchen" herb garden and we're ready for summer cooking.

In the hummingbird planter I put a small Mandevilla vine against the trellis. I may try to overwinter it this year following suggestions on the linked web site.  The hummingbirds love the red trumpets and last year's plant bloomed all season with no problems.  I replanted the Gerbera daisies on either side, added a Laguna White Lobelia Proven Winner in front (attracts butterflies), some trailing fuchsia on either end and a few moss rose or Portulaca on the back sides.  Bring on the hummers and the flutterbyes!

In the third planter, I used a yellow theme since I had a large yellow Gerbera daisy. I added a Blackie sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) Proven Selections (on the right side) and the replanted Chrysanthemum Hannah Orange. (I found the tag from last fall in my garden tote--it is supposed to be hardy.) on the left. In front, I chose two Pink Lemonade Suncatcher petunias. I also had a few moss rose or Portulaca left to add front and back corner and another lobelia. I hope to find a stand alone Black Eyed or Sunny Susan vine to place between the two planters for some height and to tie the yellows and blacks together. It's going to be a hummingbird and butterfly garden aloft.  We are high above the road below our cliff as you can see in the photo.  In the flight path...