Episode 206- The Garden- Contained!

Host J Schwanke shows you how to incorporate container gardens into any living situation. Anyone can enjoy container garden and de-stress with the bounty you can grow for food, drink, and entertaining.Episode 206: - The Garden- Contained!I love a container garden- because I get to create an arrangement- with Plants. It's the same concept- and many I times I use the same elements and principles of design. I choose Colors for impact, different plants offer wonderful textures and provide line and scale- there are many similarities.Not every has the opportunity to have a yard- but most everyone has a place- even a small one for a container garden- it could even be on a windowsill, balcony, terrace or fire escape. For me it's a place for more flowers- but you can also grow vegetables or herbs- and have the thrill of growing some of your own food.I love creating different container gardens- and mixing different flowers- or replanting something I love watching grow- or experimenting...with something NEW... it's all fun- and it's all about the Flowers. In this show- we explore the following...Look to Local Nurseries or Garden Center for Plants!I visit my favorite Local Plant Seller- Jonker's Garden in Holland Michigan- this 3rd Generation Local Family Garden Center has been offering unusual and unique plants since 1948- and many of the staff are 30-35 Year Plant experts- for Michigan Garden and Flowering Plants!I meet up with my Friend Dirk Jonker (Meet Dirk Here!)- and we discuss planting container gardens, flower plants- and some of my favorites- and Dirk joins me for Flower Cocktail Hour- and we create the Pineapple Basil Cocktail with Local Herbs and 100% Pure Pineapple Juice!Pineapple Basil Cocktail recipe - follow this Link!You learned about Arrange-plant in Episode 101 of Life in Bloom (The PILOT) It's my concept when it comes to outdoor planting- whether it's in the yard, garden or container planters... it's all about the Flowers- and including items that I can cut, clip or nick for a wonderful flower arrangement- and I bring one of those arrangements to Dirk- that feature plants and flowers- that I purchased from Jonkers- earlier in the year!Window Sill Herb GardenI show you how easy it is to re-purpose a few fruit jars- (or even clay pots) for a Fun windowsill herb garden. I paint the pots- with überMatte "Graphite" - from Design Master-  this amazing Blackboard Paint- is easy to use- and covers completely- to help in the fun flower project!Learn all about this Flower Craft Project- at this Link!Hanging Garden Lanterns!This is a fun project- that allows you to cut Flowers and Foliage from your Garden- and use them decorate in style- for your next garden party or even a casual Flower Cocktail Hour on the Deck. I picked up these Lanterns at the Thrift store- and instead of candles- I filled the glass inserts with Garden Flowers... Cue the Garden Party Theme!Watch me create these Fun Flower Arrangements- and get my tips and secrets for success... at this LINK!Flower arranging with Chiropractor- Dr. Adam Van Gessel DCI'm an avid and proactive Chiropractor Advocate. I've been going to my great Chiropractor- and Friend- Dr. Adam Van Gessel and his father for many years- he's helped me so many times... and in this show- he drops by the Life in Bloom Studio- and we create some exceptional arrangements featuring Foliage Bouquets from FernTrust-  and Gorgeous Protea from Resendiz Brothers (you saw them in Episode 102- Protea Long Term Beauty! Watch it NOW) - and featuring Lilies from Holland America Flowers!Learn more about Dr. Adam Van Gessel- and my Chiropractor Experiences Here - and his favorite Garden Plant- the Stropocarpella Saxorum! (The Strep- throat plant... hehehe)Featured Flower: Geranium!I've been around Geraniums my entire Life. We grew them in my families greenhouses- and we sold THOUSANDS- of them every year... from the regular geranium to ones with variegated foliage- or even Rosebud Flowers. Also known as "Crane's Bill" because of the unique seed pod- that the flower creates- that looks like the head of crane. This unique shape- and seed pod- forms after blooms expire...HINT: to Keep your geraniums blooming all summer long- DEAD Head- daily to remove the spent blooms before they form the "crane's bill" - this keep the plant from going dormant- and keeps the blooms coming!Native to the Mediterranean - there are many forms of Geranium... we're used to seeing the Red, White or Pink varieties- the are also Hardy Geranium- (I have two varieties in the garden... a Purple- and Light Blue/Lavender) and Scented Geranium Varieties that include Citronella- and many others.There are over 422 different Varieties of Geranium. The White varieties are believed to ward off Snakes... Interesting to say the least... but did you also know that Geranium are TOXIC to Japanese Beetles... that could be very useful- if your garden is plagued by these invasive flying insects that love to ravage my Rose Bushes!Creating Container Gardens!I love Container Gardens- and I love to color block my containers- meaning that I choose A Specific Color (or two) and include plants of that color to make a strong impact - with the color in my garden!I also follow the "Thriller",  "Filler" and "Spiller" Technique that is very popular...Choosing an Interesting Tall- Plant- to THRILL the viewer- this goes in the center of the Planter... it can be a Grass, or Tall Blooming Plant like a Canna 0r even a Tropical Plant like a Arbocolla or Dracena Spike!.Then I choose "Spillers"- or plants that trail- to place around the edge of the container... Licorice or Cascading Petunia- are good examples of plants that will literally spill over the side of the container and trail down...Finally- I fill in - with "Fillers". Those Plants- Geraniums are a great example of a filler- as are Pot-unias... a special variety that fills in- rather than cascades... or Coleus- I find the unusual and unique varieties of Coleus- like Fish Net Stockings- to be magical- and including them in a container garden adds interest, texture and color- that you can't always find in flowering plants... plus I love to 'nick a Coleus Stem here or there... and add to my flower arrangements- they are hardy and so unexpected!I hope you enjoy the Garden Contained- and take the time to give container gardening a try- it's another way to encourage health and wellness benefits of flowers... both inside and out!