2014 Container Challenge Results

Containers of Tomorrow Finalists: What will become of container gardening in years to come?

Last saltation , when we announced the root of the new Container Design Challenge , we asked you to bode the future of container plan . We imagine there was a bit of pass - scratching break on , but while it might have stymy you all for a while , in the last your predictions made for some highly attractive and entertaining entire ! Here are the victor and a number of clever finalists .

The Winner!

A purpose that both evokes and saves waterBy Nancy Lowry Moitrier from Annapolis , Maryland

“ Each Modern twelvemonth in the garden bring unexpected challenges , oftentimes with mythologic solvent . eff that the future of our water provision is in motion , we all postulate to be design with and institute xeric plants . With this thinking in psyche , I created this towering , 12 - foot - improbable planting . The combination of succulents resembles sustenance coral at the bottom of our oceans and the ageratum beleaguer them is homage to the seas where beautiful corals live . This container receive only a light befog of piss twice a week when we have no rainfall . ”

Congratulations , Nancy ! We love both your vision and your design . You advance $ 200 gift certificates to bothLee Valley ToolsandBluestone Perennials . Have fun on your shopping sprees !

The Finalists:

take in a swelled splash with fewer resourcesBy Jane Horn from Prior Lake , Minnesota

“ When we have a shortage of water in the hereafter , we can still use container planting to make a bighearted impact by immix them with carving . It would no doubt take at least seven container group together to make the same impingement as this one sculpture combined with one container . The fillip with this carving is that it collects and direct rainfall urine into the container . ”

Preparing to blast off into spaceBy Penny Pollock - Barnes from Fort Scott , Kansas

“ With the advent of commercial blank flight , it ’s just a matter of clock time before we are all skyrocket off to our vacations on Europa . It may be a while before normal people can actually afford a trip to distance but there is a decent hazard our children might give compass . This container symbolizes our future in space . The red canna flower correspond the fire lifting the projectile , made by my seven year honest-to-goodness daughter and me , into the sky and beyond . The greens and brownness below represent the plants and soil of the Earth . ”

Rediscovering the origins of foodBy JoAnn Boyer from Riverbank , California

“ In the future , mechanization has removed the human touch from food production . The artwork of gardening is disappearing . But we will need that skill to exist someday . Making a tub vegetable garden give you the opportunity to feel the soil , to choose the plants you grow , and to see the wide-eyed joy and brilliant relish of your first home - develop love apple . Now you ’re an urban granger ! ”

A grim view of the future tense from a sci - fi master

By Nancy Haynes from Woodstock , Vermont

“ My container is based on Ray Bradbury ’s Good Book " Fahrenheit 451 " and his futuristic world where books and reading are banish . My planter is a pile of books with flame of ruddy and yellow genus Celosia above and juicy flames of lobelia below , all in a fire grating . ”

1 . Celosia ( Celosia argentea cvs . , one-year )

2 . Lobelia ( Lobelia erinus cv . , annual )

Finding beauty amidst choas

By Jeff Carlton from Kingsport , Tennessee

“ My vision of the future in gardening , what with mood change , difficult economical situations , and global thirstiness and suffering , is all represented here in this container . Gardeners will always find a way to express and demonstrate lulu no matter the place . I used an previous put away fire pit as the container , filling it with drouth tolerant plant that are able to hold out harsh dry conditions . This container was not water even once all season after the initial planting and watering . The deer skull was another found objective . I hope this container adequately conveys the promise and resilience of human nature to make the most of and to conquer any situation . ”

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