A pot with Gomphrena 'Las Vegas Pink' and the coleus 'Red Hot Rio' adds color before the Sedum 'Autumn Joy', mums and anemones start to bloom.

There is often a spot in the mixed flower and shrub border that looks a little drab or dreary – because the flowers aren’t blooming yet; because you just cut back something that was going to seed; because you planted a colorful shrub that hasn’t yet reached its full size, so there is empty space around it.

There are several solutions to this dilemma. You could fill in any bare spots with colorful annual plants that bloom for most of the summer.

You could plant plants with colorful foliage – chartreuse, gray or reddish leaves, or variegated cream and green, for example – at regular intervals throughout the border. This helps to keep things interesting.

This container of Begonias, Sempervivums, and Dichondra 'Silver Falls' really brightens up the garden.

The pot of banana plants adds color - but will look even better when the bright orange zinnia seedlings start to bloom!

Or you could just move a colorful pot in to break up the solid green space. When things start to bloom in one area, the pot can be relocated to another area that needs help. I have a few “rotating pots” that I use to grab attention in my borders.

Pots with a natural finish like terracotta or concrete blend into the garden scenery, while shiny glazed ceramic pots act like a piece of statuary to accent the vignette.

Your pots don’t have to spend their lives on the deck or patio. Let them join the party in the garden!

Happy Gardening,

Sue