Your Garden, Your Home

As seen in the February issue of MSM

Proudly Canadian, ISSN: 1920-4299

Make a Flower Garden Basket in February

From Coral Nafie

Are you ready for the sight of beautiful spring flowers? Perhaps it is partly because of winter that so many of us look forward to March and April. After all, that is when the weather begins to warm, grass turns green, and trees begin to leaf out.

In anticipation of the sweet days of spring, here is a project you can create any time your winter-weary spirit calls for a lift.

Materials List for the Spring Flower Basket Project

Here is what you will need to make a basket of potted flowers that will be perfect for spring, summer, or any time of year.

• Materials:
• Basket, about 5 inches high, in any width or shape
• Plastic liner for bottom of basket
• Pots of flowering plants or greenery such as ivy
• Moss, Spanish moss, or wood shaving shred
• 1-2 yards of ribbon for bow

Make this Spring Flower Basket

How to Make This Spring Flower Basket

1. Insert plastic liner into the bottom of the basket. If no liner is available, line the basket with two layers of heavy plastic, trimming edges to fit. Turn edges under so no plastic shows above the edge of the basket.
2. Remove the plants from their foil or floral paper cover. Or, if you prefer to leave the cover intact, turn the pot over and cut out the bottom of the paper so water can drain freely out of the pots. Water plants well in the sink and let drain thoroughly.
3. Arrange plants in the basket. A mix of high, medium, and low plant heights is pleasing, but several pots of one variety of flowering plant can also be closely spaced to create an even mass of flowers.
4. Next, take handfuls of moss or wood shaving shred (shown here), and insert it into any spaces between the pots. It can also be used to cover any dirt that shows. Using handfuls of moss or shred will allow you to remove pieces here and there when the plants need to be watered.
5. Make a beautiful bow and set it on the side of the basket. Using wired ribbon will allow you to arrange the bow as desired. A loop of wire can be used to twist the bow in place and give you a pick to stick down into the basket.
6. Water plants when soil no longer feels moist. Be sure to read the care and light instructions that come with each plant you use.
7. Replace any plants that perish with a new pot or green plant such as ivy.