Thanks Fern. Did you see my original story on the topic? I think my earlier Thriller, Filler, Spiller post has a link. It’s nice to have coined a term, I see it all over now but rarely get credit, oh well.–Steve

Cindy at Rosehaven Cottage

Cindy–I wish I was going to be instituting this formula in the next few weeks. But with all the snow lingering outside, and more on the way, all I can do is dream about it. For now.–Steve

My email this afternoon included one from Park Seeds linking to an webpage featuring “Thrillers, Spillers, and Fillers”…should they be giving you credit for this term?

http://images.parkseed01.com/parksgardens/pem000895/AnnualCombopem000896ai.html

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Hi Annie–Yes I see the thriller, filler, spiller thing popping up all over. It galls me some when I see some other garden coach-type offering it as their original advice in a newspaper story or the like–as I’ve seen more than a few times. But a catalog’s OK. Credit would be nice, royalties even better. But I’m afraid all I get for coining the phrase is the satisfaction of having done so.

Yep, one of the great things about container gardening is that you can use any mix of soil that’s appropriate, and so grow things that wouldn’t even dream of surviving in your regular old garden soil. Pots let you play with more plants.–Steve

Do you know if there is a list somewhere with all the fun days garden bloggers participate in…like Bloom Day, etc.

Gail
clay and limestone

Welcome Gail-Not sure whether there is such a list, but if you keep poking around it shouldn’t take long for you to discover enough activities to keep you busy. I do hope you’ll bring those containers out of hiding this spring, stuff them full of fun plants and share the results with us.–Steve

I agree that larger pots are best, not just for upkeep but also the plants look better. I try to buy at least one big pot each year. I can never have too many pots but my small back garden soon will!

Thank you for a lovely blog, I look forward to the next installment.

Sylvia (England)

Thanks, Sylvia–I’ve been collecting pots for a long time too. In fact I just bought six 30-inch tall, very narrow pots the other day. I always hunt them down in remainder stores and such and have been surprised at how little you can get great pots for provided you’re not too impatient. And yes, I often grow plants that are new to me in a pot. That way I can keep an eye on them and get a better sense of what they’re all about before moving them on to a permanent home. It’s great to buy inexpensive, small Japanese maples, grow them on for a few years in a pot, then when they get some size, into the ground they go.–Steve

Gee Jodi, thanks for the compliment. I think FG is one of the better garden magazines out there too, but then I may be biased. Heck, at this rate if you wait a little longer, your dollar may be worth more than ours.–Steve

Aha! Well MMD, you’ve read just part one of the thriller, filler and spiller saga. Next time out I’ll have some ideas that may make life a lot easier for you and others who share the challenge of keeping some of their container plants from outgrowing their allotted space. And I’m glad to know there are so many FG readers out there.–Steve

Thanks, Connie. Container combos are one of the things I enjoy most about gardening. I’ve gotten so many ideas playing with pots, and many combinations that began in a container have translated into more permanent groupings in some of my beds and borders.–Steve