Window Boxes

I love overstuffed window boxes brimming with gorgeous blooms and trailing plants.  I am on the hunt for unique window box ideas for my house and sheds this year.  The weather has been so unseasonably mild here in New England that I think I actually smell spring in the air and that is triggering thoughts of flowers.

To me window boxes are like mantles in our homes.  They lend themselves to so many different fillings reflective of the seasons.  I have been scouring the internet in my attempt to stumble upon an image I love.
I thought I would share some (tons) of the photos I have been collecting . 

But first a little educational time before we play.  I found some wonderful information for creating thriving beautiful window boxes from the site countryfarm-lifestyles.

Types of flowers to use:
You can use almost any kind of plant when planting window boxes. Drooping plants are nice to have as they trail over the sides of the box, and add that touch of grace which is characteristic of all vines. Plants that bloom freely throughout the season should be chosen in preference to shy and short-season bloomers. Geraniums, Petunias, Verbenas, Fuchsias, Salvias, Heliotropes, Paris Daisies — all these are excellent.

When planting widow boxes you can also use vines. Vines that will grow well are Glechoma, green, with yellow variegation—Vinca Harrisonii, also green and yellow, Moneywort, German Ivy, Tradescantia, Thunbergia, and Othonna. A combination of plants with richly-colored foliage is especially nice for boxes on the porch or veranda, where showiness is what you want. In these boxes larger plants can be used than one would plant at the window. Here is where Cannas and Caladiums will be found very effective.

Ferns, like the Boston and Pierson varieties, are excellent for planting window boxes that don't get a lot of sun because of their graceful drooping and spreading habit. They combine well with pink-and-white Fuchsias, rose-colored Ivy Geraniums, and the white Paris Daisy. Petunias—the single sorts only—are also good, because they bloom freely and constantly, and have enough of the droop in them to make them as useful in covering the sides of the box as they are in spreading over its surface. 

Perhaps many of you have already tried your hand at planting window boxes and even porch boxes and had the same dismal results. The problem is that 99 times out of 100 failure with window-boxes is due to just one thing: People let their plants die simply because they do not give them enough water. Because the plants are in a container they dry out far quicker than if the plants were in the ground.

It is not enough to just wet the surface of the soil, thinking that there is enough moisture below. What is happening is that only the first inch or two is wet, and the roots system below is in fact very dry with no water at all. This explains why the plants start off well because while the plants are young and small their roots are close to the surface, and as long as they remain in that condition they grow well enough, but as soon as they attempt to send their roots down, as all plants do, after the earlier stages of growth—they find no moisture, and in a short time they die.

There is no danger of overwatering, for all surplus water will run off through the holes in the box, provided for drainage. Therefore when planting window boxes make sure that you water them very well and give them a thorough soaking everyday. If you do, you will find that you will have the success you have been looking for.

Now for the fun! I'm including traditional window boxes and a few of the more unique one's I've come across.

 

I know, I know, this is not technically a window box but isn't it pretty?

Love this

Prim and propper, but very pretty

Not on my house but maybe the sheds!

Then their are the fall and winter dressed boxes....

sigh......

When I saw this one, the word bountiful popped in my head



This one is creepy and cool at the same time. 
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Window box on steroids

I'm not sure what I will end up doing.  I have some time to decide.  Whatever I decide I promise to share it on my blog.

If you have pictures of window boxes you have created I would love to see them.  Once I decide on mine and do a follow up post I will share all of your photos on that post.

-Lisa