This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

April: Spring to Life!

Fill your containers with cool season flowering plants.

Nothing will shrug off winter’s grip better than a pot of smiling pansies. If you choose cool weather plants that stand up to an occasional chilly April night or two, there is no need to wait for May to enjoy colorful flowers and fresh greens. Since our Midwestern growing season is so short, don’t procrastinate. Slide on a pair of fresh, clean gloves and fill your containers with April flowers!

Cool Color Combinations

Give a few of these planting ideas a try or share some time with friends and design your own unique, spring containers.

Blues Rule: Is there anyone who can resist cool blues and sparkling whites? These annuals love cool and sunny days. The mounding and cascading, deep-blue, annual Lobelia (Lobelia) pairs nicely with the taller, African or Cape Daisy (Osteospermum). The white, daisy-like petals contrast beautifully with their blue centers. Add a true blue flower such as ‘Wildcat Blue’ Anagallis (Anagallis). It likes to fill in and spill over the sides of any container. For another sparkle of white, tuck in a few plants of fragrant and tiny-flowered Allysum (Lobularia hybrid ‘Easter Bonnet White’) among the two blues. Want some height? Add a teepee of yellow, dogwood twigs by placing four twig groupings (2-3 branches in each) into the four corners of a large, rustic container. Gather all of the tops together with a natural, jute twine and tie into a bow.

Find out what's happening in Lake Forest-Lake Bluffwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Show-stopping Purples: Trend-setting ‘Radiant Orchid is the inspiration for the fashion runway this spring, as well as for flower colors this year. Line an open-wire, basket container with sheet moss and stuff it with shades of purple, pink and  bright green foliage. The annual Phlox ‘Intensia Pink’ is an early-flowering phlox that can handle a light frost and also will hold up to summer’s heat. It weaves itself among other plants such as the large-faced, deep-purple Pansy (Viola wittrockiana) and the trailing, lavender-flowering, Bacopa (Sutera cordata ‘Snowstorm Blue’).

Some Like It Hot: Wake up your senses with sizzling, tropical colors! Choose a neutral-toned, cast-stone containers that won’t fight for the spotlight when paired with boisterous, bloom colors. Look for intense colors such as tangerine-orange Pansies and pair them with Upright Red-Orange or Upright Rose Pink Diaschia. This new form of Diaschia has 3-inch flower spikes on plants that thrive in sun or shade in springtime but need some protection from direct sun in summer. Fill in the spaces with cold tolerant lettuces in fresh-green such as Butterhead or the burgundy-tipped varieties such as Red Oakleaf. You’ll love your container for its good looks as well as for the fresh ingredients for a homegrown salad.

Find out what's happening in Lake Forest-Lake Bluffwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Girl Power! The tissue-paper-like petals of the Persian Buttercup (Ranunuculus) flower look exquisite in any color but the pink shades are especially tempting. Ranunculus are cool season bloomers so we must cherish them for a brief time every spring. When planting them in pots outdoors, they prefer a well-drained potting soil and a sunny location. They are not happy in a warm and wet environment. These Mediterranean natives look stunning in a tall, pedestal container when you can see their delicate blossoms up close. Handpick a selection of blush, cotton candy pink and dark pink shades  (maybe with a few yellow flowers sprinkled throughout). Arrange this abundant mixture together in the container and circle the pot with the sweetly-scented, white flowers of Nemesia ‘Compact Innocence’ or the tri-color (white, lavender, pink) Nemesia ‘Opal Innocence.’ Both are excellent bloomers in cool spring temperatures. Ranunculus will disappear when summer heats up but the Nemesia will continue to flower in part shade throughout autumn. Substitute airy, white Lobelia plants instead of Nemesia for a similar look. It's a perfect combination for a spring wedding!

More cool season flowering plants:
 
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum)
Primrose (Primula)
Johnny-Jump-up (Viola cornuta)
Iceland Poppy (Papaver nudicaule)
Pot Marigold (Calendula)
Toadflax (Linaria)
Stock (Mathiola)
Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis)

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?