Spring Window Box

The weather has finally gotten to the point where I can work outside and even plant a few flowers! Flowers are my most favorite things in the world and I could not wait to get planting after this long winter!

Here in northern Indiana, the rule of thumb for planting flowers (or even a garden) is nothing goes in until Mother's Day weekend. It's just not safe to plant prior to the middle of May around here. If it frosts, your flowers will die. Some flowers, such as Pansies and Violas, are fairly cold hardy and are safe to plant sooner. 

I once read that Pansies are hardy to about twenty-six degrees and then they stop flowering. There have been a few close calls, with a couple more to come. But, so far, they are looking good and growing already! Pansies come in several different colors and I chose an awesome mix this year for my window box garden!

I also went the extra mile this year and got some Miracle Grow Potting Soil. I want to see if it really makes a difference. It promises blooms twice as big, so we shall see. I'm always looking for ways to improve my gardening game!

The orange Pansies were a must and that's what I built the rest of the colors around.

I love bright, bold colors, but I felt it needed to be a little grounded so I added just one maroon Pansy and put it right in the middle. I simply alternated the rest of the colors on either side. I didn't pack the window box completely full because I wanted to give the flowers room to grow and breathe!

This Pansy mix is so pretty, I may just leave it up all Summer! It would even look very nice all the way into Fall, but let's not get ahead of ourselves!

Don't forget, you can follow me on Instagram @ sweethome.indiana!

Spring This Year Vs. Last Year

It's that time of the year when I am just dying to get outside and work in my yard! Unfortunately, the weather is not cooperating how I'd like.

This year, winter has felt like it's gone on forever and ever! With barely a decent day in months, my flowers are all way behind last year's schedule. Only last week has my little crop of Ice Follies Daffodils started to open. Many of my other Daffodils are even still waiting to get their buds and my newest batch that I planted in my creekside garden last Fall are just barely pushing through.

There are a few bright spots in these gray days and the first is that my Coral Sunset Peony that I planted last Summer from a root is growing! I had written it off since there was absolutely no activity with it all last year. This will mark year one and with any luck, in two more years I will have some gorgeous coral Peonies blooming! It usually takes about three years for plants planted from root to bloom. That also means that I am expecting my two other newest peonies to bloom this year!

Also, my favorite place to buy flowers, Main's Flower Gardens, opened last Saturday! I look forward to opening day every year because that means nice weather is here! Or, in this year's case, it's on it's way! I have yet to make it there this year though because the weather has been so bad!

The forecast for next week looks promising, so here's hoping! I am very anxiously awaiting the true arrival of Spring around here!


This was my backyard at this time last year.....

This is my backyard this year on the same day! Quite the difference!

I am so looking forward to when all my flowers are in bloom again!

I guess that just means they will last longer into the season, right?

At least it looks like I am going to have a plethora of lilacs this year! If the frost doesn't get to them too badly!