New "Pot with a Purpose Contest" Begins

I'm talking container gardening here, not medical marijuana. Container gardening is big these days. I've seen some very inventive examples at local garden centers and at the Denver Botanic Gardens that include unusual, showy tropical plants mixed with old standbys, as well as, beautiful groupings of single species of pots brought together based on color and textural themes. Timberline Gardens, in Arvada, CO has spectacular looking pots that combine succulents with drought tolerant annuals and perennials that truly elevates the technique to an art form.

But my conscience pricks at my gardening mind with the thought that beauty in the garden just isn't quite enough rationalization for using precious resources. Containers can have a tendency to require more water than if the plants were planted in the ground because the sides of a container expose the interior soil to the day's heat and results in faster evaporation. Plastic pots can help alleviate this problem, but using moisture reserving polyacrylamide crystals has some serious detractors. Still, with my evolving interest in mitigating the environmental impacts of the built landscape, I am adopting a standard that compels me to make every effort and resource I use, count for something more than just a pretty face.

So with the goal of making beautiful container gardens that provide double duty--beauty and function--I am announcing the newest contest: The Pot With A Purpose Contest. The winner of the contest will receive a $25 gift certificate from Renee's Gardens for seeds of your choice.

The Rules: The purpose of the contest is to stimulate some thought about how we can use containers to create beautiful compositions that also serve an additional raison d'être. Each time you post with a description of a planted container you will be entered into the raffle to win the gift certificate from Renee's Garden. In each of your posts, include the purpose of the plant assemblage as well as the plants' names (common name and species name, if pertinent). Here's an example:

Purpose: Back Door, Need a Pinch, Herb Garden.
Plants: Chives, Peppermint, Pineapple Mint, Bronze Fennel, Edible Ornamental Oregano, Dill, and Red Leaf Lettuce.

The purpose of the container garden can be to grow edibles, such as herbs, flowers, and vegetables, medicinal plants, plants to attract beneficial insects or any purpose you might conjure. Be imaginative or nostalgic, there will be no horticultural judgments about your plant selections. The contest runs from today through March 28--ten days for you to post your possibilities in the comments section on my blog site. I will offer some resources about container gardening basics, design, and beneficial insects to spur your creativity ever onward.