Slices of life, both written and photographed.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Window Box Flowers



Empty windowsills cry out for attention in the spring.
   
Luckily, a dear friend told about a huge flower sale, sponsored by horticulture students, at Monument Mountain Regional High School in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.




We drove together to the destination and were delighted to find hundreds of flowering plants such as begonias, dahlias, daisies, impatiens, petunias, and geraniums.

Here's one called "Lemon Symphony":



Bill Florek, director of Horticulture at the school, said more than 35 students began planting last November for the sale.

Plants filled three greenhouses on the grounds. Students helped customers carry selections to cars and rang up the purchases. What a great program this seemed to be. Too bad all public school cannot offer horticultural programs. 




The hardest part came when deciding which of the $4.00 plants would come home to fill the flower boxes.

Brilliant red geraniums or soft apricot colored?  Dazzling pink or pastel? The final selection included white with pink (kind of candy stripes) and pastel pink geraniums, brilliant fuchsia ones, too, and white petunias.




Oh, how I'd love to go back to the sale for some lavender and for some fiery red flowers and at least 10 other varieties.

In the spring, it's easy to fall asleep without counting sheep. One can count all the different kinds of flowers there are to plant.

DO YOU HAVE WINDOW BOXES TO FILL?  IF YES, WHAT FLOWERS DO YOU FILL THEM WITH?

10 comments:

Mariette said...

Dearest Susan,

Oh yes we sure do have window boxes! Did a post about ours on May 15 http://bit.ly/jmvBrQ
It is such a joy to have flowers visible from your windows.
This project was SUPER! You made me very happy by showing green houses; that's where I came from, from a Dad who was a Market Gardener and I've spent so many hours working in the green houses.

Lots of love,

Mariette

Linda O'Connell said...

Very beautiful. I don't have a window box but I do like them.

Chatty Crone said...

You are so right - "Too bad all public school cannot offer horticultural programs." That is fantastic and what a learning experience. I wonder how they got the program?

Any how - the flowers you chose were wonderful - you will have to show us your boxes.

This year I planted plants out front - we redid our front last year and I had to add some - next year flowers - in the mean time I love looking at yours.

Bookie said...

Finally, we had a day without rain yesterday so we could think flowers once again. These flowers are beautiful...know you are flower ready too!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Lovely flowers. I think that kind of sale is wonderful! I have planters on my deck I fill with flowers. What ever is pretty at the plant store! hugs, Linda

Susan said...

Hi Everybody!

Hope you are all well and if it's raining where you are, hope you can make your own sunshine today.

Sending out a warm welcome to Karen, this blog's 232nd Follower. Karen, a wedding photographer in Western Massachusetts, does not have a blog but she does run her own business. Thanks for Following, Karen! Hope you stop by often.

Hugs to all. Susan

diane stetson said...

The most beautiful window boxes I have ever seen were in Bavaria, Germany...so so gorgeous. I do not have a green thumb at all so no window boxes at my house...yours will be very pretty I'm sure!

Terri Tiffany said...

I don't have window boxes but I had a really nice pot but this year we filled two with tomatoes and a pepper plant!

Unknown said...

What a wonderful & beautiful plant sale. Yes, all school's should have projects like this. I would have lost control of myself visiting this place.

We don't have window boxes, tho I have certainly thought of them often to do. Will look forward to seeing where you plant all your lovelies ...

Have a beautiful day ~
TTFN ~
Marydon

Claus said...

I don't, but I have a patio with long spaces along the walls with plenty of nature! I have plenty of geraniums this year, a well as cala lilies, gardenias and herbs! oh!, and I planted jalapeños! :o) in a very small pot, and they are growing nicely! :o) The joys of a growing garden...
have a lovely day!

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