As we save up money to finally install some backyard landscaping in our new home, I decided I could at least bring some life to our covered patio by incorporating some greenery into our outdoor living space. I have long been a fan of Monrovia brand plants as the grower I trust for quality and the best long term, overall healthy plants. I know exactly which garden centers in my area carry them, and when given the option to choose a Monrovia plant or some no name plant, I would choose Monrovia nursery anytime, regardless of the price. The difference is visible in the plant itself, the soil, and even the thorough care instructions provided. Not to mention, if I have any questions, I can visit the Monrovia website anytime for all the answers and inspiration I need AND even order online in the Monrovia Shop.
I saw an awesome picture on Pinterest once of a beautiful French patio with an old marble top table surrounded by boxwoods and French herbs, simply potted in a variety of containers of shapes, sizes, and heights. It was perfectly casual and yet refined at the same time, and I had always hoped one day I could recreate the look. FINALLY, I have the perfect space (I claimed it as MY project before we even moved in), and an antique marble baker’s table needing some love, so it’s time to make it happen!
Now let’s be honest, going to your local nursery can be a tad overwhelming when the aisles look like this:
But for my patio project, I went in looking for 3 specific plants – boxwood, lavender, and rosemary – so I really only needed to do 2 things : 1) ask where to find them, and 2) look for the Monrovia name. Those green pots with the white Monrovia name and the tags with the purple trim are all you need to see to know you are buying the right plants!
I had several options to choose from when looking at boxwood, so a selected a variety of smaller bright green boxwood plants that all looked like they had great potential for trimming and shaping over time.
Next, I headed for the herbs, and if you’ve every searched for rosemary or lavender in a nursery…well you know when you’re getting close… that gorgeous smell! Of all the herbs in this section, the Monrovia plants were by far the healthiest and hardiest of the bunch. Easy choice.
So here’s a few of the beauties I chose. Can’t you just smell that lovely lavender?
Time to get to work. Here’s my poor unhappy patio before:
With the firepit and rocking chairs at the other end, that means this patio area is not only a walkthrough area, but a focal point to lead you over there. It has to look better than this! It’s been a bit neglected since we focused on inside the house up to now, but with warmer weather, it’s patio season and something has to be done.
So I recycled lots of old containers and planters that had been sitting in storage since the move, selected a good potting soil to keep my new plants happy, and got to repotting. After a nice watering (and washing away of the mess I made on the patio), here’s the results:
I have to say I love the perfectly “unperfect” look of it all, and let me just tell you, the lavender and rosemary scent is INCREDIBLE as the breeze goes through here. And the bonus? I’ll be cooking with that rosemary too.
Here’s a few photos of the individual plants:
A few tips for getting the casual “European patio” look:
- Choose containers in a variety if neutral colors and textures. I used clay, terra cotta, metal, and ceramics but went for lighter colors so the bright green plants stand out.
- Arrange your plants in several groupings at varying heights.This could include pots in different sizes as well as using risers like crates and other platforms for smaller pots.
- Avoid over-balancing.Skip the symmetrical look and don’t overthink the placement. You want your eye to move around the space instead of focusing on one area.
Oh, and you may have noticed those rather large potted boxwood balls I already had.
They survived the move and have been repotted 3 times in their busy life with us the past 3 years. And you wanna guess what grower they came from? Yep – Monrovia.
Next project for me is getting that old garden gate that’s leaning against the fence in the background mounted at the end of the patio so I can add a nice climbing rose or flowering vine (from my go-to brand of course.)
So if you are thinking about updating your patio like me, or maybe just want to add some wonderful scents to your scenery with quality herb plants, trust me when I say you can’t go wrong with Monrovia plants.
To visit their website for inspiration and tons of great plant resource info, CLICK HERE.
Already know what you want but don’t know where to buy it? You can even shop Monrovia online and find exactly which nurseries, garden centers, and Lowes in your area stock the Monrovia name.
Now go out there and plant something beautiful!
#GrowBeautifully
#MonroviaPlants
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