P is for Purple Pots on the Patio

About a week ago, we went browsing at the local nursery to get ideas for decorating the patio. There was so much to choose from, but we were mostly interested in fuschias for hanging planters, tomatoes to grow from pots situated along the sunny side of the house, and other colourful flowers for the garden beds. At one point, I pointed to some flowers and said, "Oh, those are so pretty. I love the colour!" The response was a sort of "Uh huh." That day we only bought 4 humungous bags of outside potting soil and some black pots. It was still a bit early for planting...

The next day, upon arriving home from an appointment, what did I see on the front porch area? Two large, gorgeous pots full of those beautiful purple flowers I had seen at the nursery! I've since discovered that these flowers are called osteospermum, also known as the African Daisy, South African Daisy, Cape Daisy and Blue-eyed Daisy. They come in all sorts of colours and are considered semi-perennials - they don't tolerate wintery conditions. They might survive here if we have a reasonably temperate winter.

Anyway, the pots aren't really purple (as my title suggests) but the flowers range from pale to deep purple and are absolutely magnificent. They're growing and thriving and I've already had to do a bit of deadheading.

The fuschias were planted yesterday - four pots in all, so far, and hung along the overhang of the patio at the back. Also, there's a new HUGE pot of cosmos on the patio and another pot of white osteospermum joining the purple ones.. Pretty soon we'll go and buy the tomato plants and other flowering plants for the garden beds - that is, after we do some weeding - and then we can sit back and relax, getting up periodically to water the plants and get a fresh drink.

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