Today we’re visiting with Katie Verdieck in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Katie is a landscape designer, and she specializes in creating beautiful containers. They’re great inspiration for every gardener because no matter how big or small your garden space is, you have room for another container!

This lovely container is focused almost entirely on shades of purple from both flowers and foliage. Katie recommends planting containers very densely to give a nice full effect right from day 1.

Soft yellow zinnias (Zinnia × marylandica, annual) contrast beautifully with purple foliage and flowers. The addition of lavender (Lavandula × intermedia, Zones 5–8) makes this container smell wonderful, especially if you brush past it.

There is something about yellow and white together. Here, yellow begonia (Begonia hybrid, Zones 10–11 or as an annual) pairs perfectly with the white leaves of a caladium (Caladium hybrid, Zones 8–11 or as a tender bulb).

This white begonia flower is gorgeous, and it shows off even stronger for being paired with dark-leaved coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides, Zones 10–11 or as an annual) and heuchera (Heuchera hybrid, Zones 5–9). A caladium with dark red–spotted white leaves further emphasizes the color combination.

It’s hard to beat a big flat full of showy pansies (Viola × wittrockiana, cool season annual) in full bloom. Pansies can take freezing weather and so are great choices for winter plantings in mild climates and early spring plantings.

Snowdrops (Galanthus species, Zones 3–7) are always a welcome sign of spring, but look how amazing they look against the dark leaves of black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’, Zones 5–9).

In winter, you can change out the annuals for potted shrubs, evergreen perennials, and cut branches to make a beautiful display. If the cut branches brown and fade, just pull them out and replace them with fresh ones.

If you want to see more of Katie’s beautiful creations, check out her instagram: @thegardeness

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