Container gardening is top of mind right now, and there are plenty of ideas to go around: creating more beautiful pots, standout perennials for containers, dahlias that shine in both the garden and the vase, and a helpful reminder about USDA hardiness zones. And don’t forget, our live webinar is today!
Container gardening is on the mind this week, and cranesbill geranium is one to keep in mind. This long-blooming, carefree perennial forms a dense mound of dissected foliage and cup-shaped flowers in a range of colors.
Plant it in an oversized pot with plenty of room to grow, and consider smaller varieties like ‘Ballerina,’ ‘Karmina,’ or ‘Biokovo’ if you want something that won’t spread as much. Hardy in Zones 4 to 9, it blooms from spring to fall in full sun to partial shade. Photo by Janet Loughrey.
Speaking of containers, it's webinar day! Are you joining us at 6pm Eastern Time? Get ready to create abundant containers that look lush, balanced, and intentional all season long.
Designing Abundant Containers
with Karen Chapman
Live Zoom Presentation
Thursday, April 9th, 2026 @ 6 PM ET*
You'll takeaway the hallmarks of a well-designed container:
- Rich layers of foliage and flowers that completely fill out the container, yet don't look overgrown.
- A cohesive color palette, not a confusing mish-mash.
- Exciting plant combinations, with a few surprises.
- Longevity, no more petering out mid-summer.
- Gloriously lush and truly abundant, even when newly planted.
- Well-balanced in form and scale.
Perfect for gardeners of all experience levels!
$20 USD Registration Fee
*Can't join us at that time? All registrants will receive the recording the Monday after the webinar. You will have 30 days to watch or rewatch.
"Plants want to grow; they are on your side as long as you are reasonably sensible." —Anne Wareham, garden writer
Instagram-Worthy Flowers for Your Garden and Vase
Dahlias have soared in popularity because of their “Instagram-worthy” blooms. Flowers come in a rainbow of colors that range in size from 2-inch to 15-inch monster blooms. These stunners make a statement in the garden and are excellent cut flowers. Some can grow up to 5 feet tall, and single-flowered varieties attract pollinators.
Although we garden in different regions, some plants can bring us together. Baptisia is one of them, typically hardy in Zones 3 to 9 depending on the species. Our USDA Plant Hardiness Zone page makes it easy to find your zone and choose plants that fit.
Pictured: ‘Screamin’ Yellow’ (Zones 5–8) and ‘Carolina Moonlight’ (Zones 4–9). Those soft spikes of blooms, similar to lupines, bring structure, color, and a natural ease to the garden, with full, shrub-like clumps that return bigger each season once established. Photos by Nancy J. Ondra.
It's so exciting when a friend reaches an amazing milestone. Deborah Silver of Detroit Garden Works and the Dirt Simple blog is celebrating 30 years. Do you have a favorite garden blog or garden shop? Reply and let us know!
Travel with award-winning garden designer Karen Chapman and experience extraordinary gardens, landscapes, and cultural treasures through an insider’s lens.
Her next trip: Adventures Down Under: Australia and Tasmania, October 20th - November 6th 2026. Learn more here.
Pictured above: A Melbourne garden designed and photographed by Michael McCoy.
Happy travels,
Jim Peterson
PS: Don’t forget to join Karen and me this afternoon for her webinar on containers!
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