The Flower Hour #41: In a Planter

For the Flower Hour, share your images of flowers, gardens, fields of flowers, seasonal leaves and plants, fungus, algae, cacti, trees and tree blossoms, berries, and wildflowers. Bouquets and silk/faux flowers are welcome.

planter of flowers

This week we’re sharing flowers and plants found in planters. Only if you dare!

While traveling in Northern California during our March road trip, we visited Empire Mine State Park in the Sierra Nevada foothills. There were huge planters everywhere on the estate, which inspired me to create a subtheme of flowers in planters.

In the above image, this huge pot, about 3 feet tall, sported beautiful winter and spring flowers like daffodils, pansies and cyclamen.

spring flowers in planter
Closer up of the planter and its lovely inhabitants.

Do you see all 8 of the original Box of 8 Crayons in the above image?

“Garden as though you will live forever.” — William Kent

I lived in Sacramento, California for over 30 years. At our small home and property, I regularly made use of pots and planters to grow a variety of flowers. I had planted five California Redwood trees while living there to give us some shade.

Planters plants
Backyard Planters

“I have enough plants,” said no one ever.

I was very proud to grow three plumeria bushes in Sacramento, which had to live in pots so we could bring them inside during the cold winters. This beauty eventually was moved to San Diego, where my daughter has continued to grow it successfully in her garden. Plumeria are also known as frangipani.

potted plumeria
Potted Plumeria

As we continued our spring road trip, I spied this long line of calla lilies sparking joy along the beach-front restaurants in Bandon, Oregon.

calla lilies
Line of Calla Lilies

Here at home in the Spokane, Washington area, Manito Park is a must see with its acres of manicured gardens.

Purple Hyssop and lavender
Hyssop and Lavender at Spokane’s Manito Park

I’m sharing for this week’s photo challenges: Dan’s CFFC, pairs of colors from the Crayola Box of 8, and for Pepper’s One Step at a Time #20.

Remember, there are no specific themes for the Flower Hour, but please use your own photography from your archives or new images. Your original images reimagined with AI tools in post-editing are also welcome. And you have all week to link to this post.

A Look-Ahead, for the planners…
8/4 FH #42 Floral ABCs—(J, the dreaded K, & L)
8/11 FH #43 No sub-theme, Your choice
8/18 FH #44 Floral ABCs (MNO)

New to The Flower Hour photo challenge? Please check out my page for more information! I encourage “double-dipping” with other blog challenges if you do not want to create a separate post.

floral signature

© 2026 Terri Webster Schrandt | secondwindleisure.com. All rights reserved. All content on this blog is protected by copyright and may not be copied, reposted, or reblogged without written permission.


Discover more from Second Wind Leisure Perspectives

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

83 responses to “The Flower Hour #41: In a Planter”

  1. I do like pots and planters. At times I’ve had around 50 big pots with everything from fruit trees, and flowers, to large vegetable plants. I like that they offer easy control of the soil, and usually less weeding.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Very good points, Maria! Thanks!

      Like

  2. Very nice photographs, Terri. This one’s difficult for me. Planters aren’t popular where I live. I’ll see if I have any from my Europe travels.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Robbie! If you don’t have any planters, any old flower will do 🙂

      Like

  3. Tranature - quiet moments in nature Avatar
    Tranature – quiet moments in nature

    Beautiful flowers and planters Terri, I especially love the frangipani and can just imagine the scent! ❤️ Our contribution for this week’s lovely challenge is here: https://tranature.com/2026/07/29/wordless-wednesday-elated-little-pollinator/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Xenia! Nice to meet up with you again. I now have you subscribed directly in my notifications. I’m sorry I’ve missed your posts!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Tranature - quiet moments in nature Avatar
        Tranature – quiet moments in nature

        Aww thank you kindly dear Terri, good to see you again 💖 xxx

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Yes, we do. Although it takes a lot of time watering all the pots.
    The Fab Four of Cley
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes it does, KB! Here on our property, hubby set up automatic watering for most of the garden beds (and trees).

      Liked by 1 person

      1. We should have that as well, dear Terri.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I’ll send Hans right over to set it up for you. He also speaks German. 😄

        Liked by 1 person

  5. A beautiful spectrum of colors, Terri. Those big pots are stunning and make such a lovely statement. The bench and the Calla Lilies are a gorgeous capture, especially the vivid and striking colors. ❤️💛😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much, Eugi! The estate in the Sierra foothills boasted many of those huge planters. I’m glad I dont have to take care of them! 😆

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re welcome, Terri. I imagine there’s some maintenance involved so they look nice.

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Terri, beautiful florals!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Wonderful pots, Terri

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Lovely flowers Terri. Wish I saw this post before I went to town today. There are some wonderful street planters in town

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Brian! Now you’ll have to go back! I’m sure you have something to share!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Not going back to town until the weekend probably. Will conjure something from my folders

        Liked by 1 person

  9. I wish we have levenders, too. So stunning. Great collection of images, Terri. Happy Tuesday on Wednesday!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Hazel! Every region has its own stunning arrays of flowers. My own lavender is getting huge. Wish I could send you some dried in a sachet to you. Happy Wednesday on Tuesday! 💜

      Liked by 1 person

      1. But I doubt if the seeds of lavender grow and survive here. That’s a very kind gesture, Terri. Thank you so much! Does that dried in the sachet smells so good?

        Liked by 1 person

      2. It’s probably to warm and wet for lavender to grow there. But the sachet filled with the dried lavender smells heavenly!

        Like

  10. I have lots of these, but I went a different route. See you Friday.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. I didn’t realise how many flowerpots I had lurking in my archives until this topic came up….thanks for helping me discover them again.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. You filled up your yard with flowers and Redwood trees Terri and it looked great! When I had my garden back in the day, I had both in-ground flowers and lots of planters. I used to plant in planters and hanging baskets as well. One of my favorites flowers were in the hanging bags – they looked gorgeous, but were a lot of work, especially the impatients as they needed deadheading and got leggy by Summer’s end. I had three along the front chain-link fence and I always bought four, so I kept an extra in the backyard in case something happened to one of the three … I was neurotic about the garden back then.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Linda! I got several free redwood seedlings from the Cal state fair over a few years. They grew very tall and housed many birds and critters. When we visited Sacramento last March we drove by the old house and were pleased to see how tall they’d become in 5 years. This year I didn’t plant petunias. Too much hand watering and dead-heading!

      Like

  13. […] joining The Flower Hour #41. A few years ago, I grew everything in pots as our house plans were not yet decided but I wanted a […]

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Old container (literally an antique) but new to me osteospermum (my new fav flowers!). I keep using this shot but the colours are so great!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Wow, what colors, Bernie! I can see why they’re your favorite!

      Like

      1. A friend gifted me the plant. I had no idea that it takes all the space of a big pot and chokes out other plants. Fine by me when it looks this amazing!!

        Liked by 1 person

  15. These are beautiful combinations. I love the flowers, and that bench! I really like the flower with the water drops.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much, Dan! I’m glad my planters of flowers worked with the various colors!

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Kirstin! I’m glad i can visit them at my daughter’s house when we’re there!

      Like

  16. These are such lovely flowers and pots.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much, Egidio! 💐

      Like

  17. […] week Terri from Second Wind Leisure is giving us a theme of Plants/Flowers in Planters. Most of my recent flower shots have not been […]

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Love all your flowers! My sister in law just sent me a picture of her Plumeria. She has had it for 3 years and it is blooming this year!
    Thanks always for all the Flower Fun!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Nancy! I just love plumeria! Wish I could grow them here. At least I have pics 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  19. We only have a small patio behind our house so we’re all about planters, Terri. You have some beauties xx

    Liked by 1 person

    1. They’re a great use of space, Jo, thank you!

      Liked by 1 person

  20. I love your backyard planters in Sacramento, and that plumeria! Wow! I’m always impressed with the planters I see when I’m out and about. They look easy to put together, but in my experience they’re not! I’ll be on the lookout for some and hopefully be back with a post of my own. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Susanne! We expanded the deck in Sacramento and terraced the planters accordingly. It made good use of our small backyard. I do miss the plumeria but I can see it when I visit my daughter.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Pure amazingness! I loved it all, the concept, your images (natch!), the planters you chose, the quotes you included and, most of all, if you dare! Made my day! Great post and challenge thank you Terri. xx

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You’re too sweet, Pam, many thanks!

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Yay, a relief from A-Z flowers! You certainly are the queen of flowers in pots. How lovely. Your Sacramento yard was beautiful. That woud have been hard for me to leave, but you have done wonders in your beautiful yard in Spokane – and so much space!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Marsha! If the loud-mouth lime neighbors weren’t 2 feet away, we might have stayed there longer. It was time to move on.
      And don’t worry, the Floral ABCs end in September. Right before our trip!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Bummer. We could have gotten together at least once a month!

        Liked by 1 person

  23. Counting the shadow as a black yes I found all 8 colours! Bonus points indeed!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Great minds with that black shadow, observation, thanks, Bernie! I hope Dan sees it so I can get bonus points 😆😆

      Like

      1. Haha — I bet you get them!

        Liked by 1 person

  24. A wonderful share Terri

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Great gallery, Terri. And I do love planters; they are so handy in small-space gardening, and they make such beautiful statements, softening the lines and edges wherever they are positioned. What a brilliant idea linking to Dan’s color challenge. It makes so much sense. Well done.

    P.S. I love the frangipani with your capture of the water droplets. Great to hear that it is still thriving after many years.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Suzette! I love how Dan’s challenge coincided with my Flower Hour this week. I didn’t even think about the 8 colors in the one image. Miracle! 😁

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Most excellent! Serendipity!

        Like

  26. That plumeria is gorgeous!

    Here is mine:

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Sofia! I was so excited when it bloomed!

      Like

  27. Love that top photo. I had several big ceramic planters in my old Washington garden and they added so much. I’m glad your plumerias are still doing well. Here’s mine from this past weekend: https://grahamsisland.com/2026/07/28/orchid-show-planters/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Graham! I bet yours were beautiful! I was doubtful I could grow the plumeria in Sacramento due to the cold and dry climates. They grow “wild” in San Diego. I’m glad my daughter could take them and continue to enjoy them.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. In Washington, I took plants in for the winter too. Here, I see them growing everywhere outside!

        Liked by 1 person

  28. […] Posted for Terri’s Flower Hour […]

    Liked by 1 person

  29. […] Some planters seen at the Hilo Orchid Show last weekend for Terri’s Flower Hour. See more responses here. […]

    Liked by 1 person

  30. Terri, your planters are gorgeous. The colors and textures you chose look amazing together.

    Here is mine:

    Hey, EveryBuddy #53! Happy Tuesday and The Flower Hour! – booomcha.com

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Kym! I think the planters chose me!

      Liked by 1 person

  31. I just redid the planters in my backyard so this was fun to see what you’ve done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh do tell, Jacqui! I’d love to see a pic.

      Liked by 1 person

  32. These are gorgeous. I *so* wish I had a green thumb like this. I’ve tried over the years and killed too many plants to try again. I was recently gifted a housewarming plant and was crushed when I killed it in less than a week. You are so talented!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Laura! My green thumb is tinged with brown most days, but I do get lucky. I do better with silk flowers. I have a silk thumb 😆

      Like

  33. Lovely display of colourful blooms! 🌈 The planter pot in the first image is also striking.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Debbie! The estate grounds at Empire Mine State Park were filled with gardens and these huge terracotta planters. Likely pretty old.

      Liked by 1 person

  34. I loved the bench picture!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Anne! The beachfront in Bandon, OR was full of wonderful plants. I liked how they styled the red bench against the lilies.

      Liked by 1 person

What is YOUR perspective? Please include your name if WP identifies you as “anonymous.

About Me

I’m a former university adjunct Professor and retired recreation & parks practitioner living in North-Eastern Washington State near the Idaho border. Second Wind Leisure Perspectives is my blog about living a leisure lifestyle, including photography, friends, fitness, and fun.

SundayStills_blogbanner
flower hour badge

Top Posts and Pages

Recent Articles

Current Photo Challenges

Wednesday Quotes graphic
CFFC badge
last on the card banner

Blogs I Enjoy Visiting


Enchanting Essex
Enchanting Essex
Stories and photographs of my adventures in beautiful Essex County, south-west Ontario.

Suzette B's Blog
Suzette B’s Blog
Inspiration and Spirituality **Award Free**

Marsha Ingrao         Always Write
Marsha Ingrao Always Write
Having fun blogging with friends

Hugh's Views & News  
Hugh’s Views & News  
WordPress & Blogging tips, flash fiction, photography, and lots more!

Through Brazilian Eyes
Through Brazilian Eyes
Nature and Travel Through Brazilian Eyes

Two Trails One Road
Two Trails One Road
Life is an Adventure

WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY
WALKIN’, WRITIN’, WIT & WHIMSY
Strolling around SE Michigan & sending joy in the journey.

Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life