How to Fake a Green THumb with this Planter Box Idea
Have I ever told you what a great gardener I am…not! I am the queen…
Even while living in Greece I could not keep flowers alive!
I mean I could keep an aloe vera plant alive and even a yucca. But that’s about it.It is the tenth of the month and that means it is time for me to join my friends on Ten on the Tenth for another project. We get together on this day to share a project with you, one that costs us less than ten dollars. Last month we talked about Spring but this month we are really looking ahead to container gardening, if and when spring decides to actually spring on us!
And now you are probably laughing because I just told you I am a brown thumb… inching close to black. But that has never stopped me. Today I’m going to show you how to fake a green thumb with this planter box idea!
What I Used:
- 3 galvanized metal planters
- 3 bunches of faux flowers
- 3 small pots with real flowers
- 2 faux vines
- 2 ceramic figurines
The How To:
The final step was to add my cute little ceramic figurines. They were originally a mustard yellow color but I wanted them a bit more neutral. So I gave them a few coats of chalky finish paint in white.
Just look at the beauty of the Viola.
And just look at the gorgeous shade of the Begonia.
I am a happy camper, to be sure, now that I have a Dollar Tree nearby. Remember back when I lived in Greece and all I did was complain about the lack of nice items at the local dollar store? I had no fall items to speak of when I made a wreath. And let’s not forget the vignette fiasco! Both of these really had me thinking outside the box!
Hop on below and visit my friends who are also going to show you their garden container ideas.
The Boondocks Blog
Pandora’s Box
Exquisitely Unremarkable
Cottage at the Crossroads
My Heart Lives Here
At Home With Jemma
Bluesky at Home
Let’s Add Sprinkles
Poofing the Pillows
White Spray Paint
Linking up to these Link Parties
This blog is for entertainment purposes only; my DIY tutorials are not professional advice. Read my full disclaimer here.
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Great job Mary. Your containers are so bright and cheerful. Enjoy your planters.
Lisa with all these gloomy days a little flower power goes a long way!
I don’t think you have a brown thumb at all. The real plants look pretty good to me. I knew Dollar Tree would have containers. It’s a great Ten on the 10th.
Katie that’s because I haven’t tampered with them yet! But ask me to water them and that is when the trouble begins.
Oh, my goodness. For someone who doesn’t garden your arrangement is beautiful. I haven’t seen those containers at the Dollar Tree but will definitely be looking for them. Great job!
Thank you Tammy, but that does not guarantee that I can keep them alive. 😉
Even with a brown thumb you can still have beautiful flowers even if there not real. Love the galvanized buckets, they are perfect for your faux flowers, and those carnations do look real.
I use to have a really green thumb, but lately it’s been turning brown. Just hope this year I have better luck with my garden
Good luck Linda, I just killed another one today. Now I’m asking my dear ole dad for advice.
Instant spring- I love it!
I really had no choice Eilis, now lets hope those real flowers last a bit.
Hey there is a solution for everything and you found a pretty one, Mary! 🙂
Thanks so much Stacey, I cheated a bit, but honest, I had no other choice. Otherwise there would have been no post.
You did a great job, so pretty and looking like spring. I am so ready for warmer temperatures.
So am I if only it would get here!
Well, you certainly did a better job at “faking it”, than I! I love the idea of adding artificial flowers and that will be my new idea for this summer (if it ever comes!)
Patti I so related to your post. I kept on nodding my head as I was reading it.
Fabulous Mary! I am loving the combo of faux and real and those dollar store planters are so sweet. I actually picked a few of them up myself recently. Here’s hoping that spring shows up soon!
Isn’t the dollar store the best here in the states? I look back at all the pathetic things I had in the dollar store in Greece and laugh in that dollar store’s face!
Lol For every problem, there’s a solution!
Maybe you should tell your hubby to be the ‘plant guy’?
I’m not really a green thumb but I do manage to keep plants alive. For the last few years I’ve had very few indoor plants anyway. The only thing we have right now is a basil plant lol. Maybe that will change when we move.
xxx
Doreen, I just killed the hyacinth. My dad said that is what they are supposed to do after a while but what do I know it looks dead to me. Basil plants are much easier to keep alive we had lots of them on the balcony back in Greece. It wasn’t summer unless there was a basil smell in the air.
What a great idea Mary! Having a black thumb myself, fake flowers will do the trick!
I totally agree Katerina and no one has to be the wiser.
What a brilliant idea. The garden looks lovely.
Thank you Christa, as long as I don’t tell the truth we should be fine.
Fun containers! I’m not usually one for faux flowers, but this is cute.
Sarah it was either the faux or bust! 😉
The flowers are so pretty. I love the planters also. It all looks so lovely.
Thank you Debra, maybe some of that goodness will also rub off on my thumbs.
Mary, mixing the real and faux flowers is a brilliant idea. You could have fooled me! Love the galvanized containers, too. No green thumb necessary!
Thank you Carol for that vote of confidence!
The beauty of faux plants these days is so different. They really did used to look REALLY faux. Now they look real, and I can see why these would cheer you up. Now why can’t I ever find anything cute at MY Dollar Store? I like those galvanized containers too.
I used to complain about my dollar store in Greece but no more Florence. I am more than happy with the one here. The only problem is to drag me away.
I always fake a green thumb too and it seems to be working! Now these planters are fun and you can change out the flowers, should they not make it for some reason ;). It looks pretty and Spring-y Mary, well done!!
For some reason Katrin? That reason is my oh so not green thumb. You can bet they will not make it. Lol!
You taught me something in this post. I had thought about putting faux and real flowers together, but thought they would make the faux flowers stand out as fake.
I was wrong, your planter looks great.
Oh I am so happy to hear that. I think the quality of these flowers is getting better at the dollar store.
Your planters are gorgeous Mary! I love to mix faux and real flowers! Faux flowers look beautiful next to the real ones! You mixed them perfectly and all these colors!
That is what I’m starting to realize Christina. They can be mixed in together and no one is the wiser.
First, I need a trip to Dollar Tree for those cute galvanized pots. I too profess to have a brown thumb but I’m loving your idea of mixing faux with real! Cute idea to add some figurines to the mix. Like you, I’m feeling quite bummed with the weather (more snowflakes today). I need something like this in my life NOW.
Run over to that dollar store and get some color into your life Marie. I’ve been getting rid of color in my house and instead have been watching the light and shadows. I must be losing it! The only real pops of color are the flowers and some awful brown furniture. Haha. But I’ll fix that soon enough.
Those plants look so real!
Thank you so much Penny!
Mary- you aren’t faking anything!
What beautiful planters you created!!
Aww thank you Laura, at least I’m being truthful about my fakeness! 😉
Hi Mary, your gardening skills sound very much like mine, cactus are about the only plants that I have any success with and that’s only because they seem to thrive on neglect! Your faux flower planters look great and the fingers crossed the live plants stay that way too.
xx
We are like two peas in a pod Debbie.I also love plants that you can neglect.
Mary,
These galvanized containers are fabulous, they add such an interesting dimension to everything. I love all flowers, even faux! Great suggestions here for one and all.
Jemma
Thank you Jemma, now if I can only keep those real plants alive, even for a week.
Mary, your planter looks so good with a mixture of faux and real. My father was a wonderful gardener and I think I should be too. Alas I can’t keep anything alive. I do have two little things that I am coaxing to keep going, so far so good.
Kathleen
Kathleen my dad also has a wonderful green thumb. Why oh why will that gene not come down to us?
I love this idea! I used to live in the Pacific Northwest and everything there grew like it was the garden of Eden. It wasn’t until I left that I learned that I actually have a brown thumb! So I really love this idea. I’ve done a little with fake plants, so I love your idea of combining live and fake. These are gorgeous!
Jennifer I lived in Greece for 20 years which is like California weather and couldn’t grow anything. Maybe I should move to the Pacific Northwest.
So cute Mary – Love it! Thanks for sharing on To Grandma’s House We Go!
Thank you Chas. Got to add some color somehow.
What a sweet planter! They do make some petty faux flowers now days. Thanks for sharing it with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
I was very impressed with these faux flowers.
Gosh…this is gorgeous. Those Dollar Tree fauxs look fabulous in with the real….great idea
They seem to get better and better at confusing us.
These are really pretty. I am SOOOO ready for spring! I do fine with planters of real flowers but in the summer sometimes it is difficult to keep them alive when you have to water everyday. I like the idea of mixing some real with some fake. If you put the fake ones toward the back no one would be the wiser!
I agree in the back they will fill out the planters and you won’t pay attention to my mistakes. 😉
such a cute idea for spring!
Thank you Tianna Spring needs all the help it can get!
I love those galvanized buckets. I wouldn’t paint them either. Your planters with a mix of real and faux turned out so pretty!
Thank you so much Sharon now if only we can fake the Spring weather.
Brilliant idea!!! Love the containers! Your planters turned out so cute!!
~Emily & Jennie @lecultivateur.com
Thank you so much ladies.
Nice challenge with good friends! Love what everyone did for $10. Great idea!
Maria it is always fun doing this challenge with these super creative ladies.
Love your pretty colorful planters, Mary–even better when you can find the supplies at Dollar Tree! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
I am making the most of the dollar tree now that I have it near by.
You know what they say Mary, fake it till you make it!!!
I love the idea of mixing real and fake flowers, I have an orchid plant that’s just leaves now so I poked a fake flower stem in the pot with it – looks ok. You have totally taken it to the next level!
Julie I’m never gonna make it, only break it. haha.
I just used fake flowers for the first time. I’m telling myself that they are a placeholder for the real flowers I will eventually plant. It was so nice to see someone else using them but yours look so much better even though we bought our flowers at the same place! I am going to buy some more and rearrange mine now. Guess I won’t be needing real flowers now!
Cathy I am so happy to hear that you like my idea. My dad was telling me the other day he wanted me to help him with the flowers, and I just looked at him in dismay and told him I will kill them if you let me near them. I do not have a green thumb to save my life. So glad this is an option.
Mary, that’s a clever idea. I think that’s a great way to add some spring color to your home. Your kids are so sweet to get you flowers.
Thanks Keri, let’s hope I can keep them alive for a week or so.
This is such a clever idea, I have a place that would be to hot for live flowers, this would work great.
I missed hosting Friday Features last week, but I’m back in full swing with lots of fun ideas and your being featured!!
Hope you will stop by and share again!!
Happy Weekend!
Karren~
Thank you so much Karren you can be sure I’ll be there tomorrow.