Create a spring container

A pretty pot will brighten lives and patios, says Ruth

- Ruth Hayes

SAYING it with flowers is one of the oldest forms of showing you care about someone, and with Mother’s Day falling on March 27, there’s time yet to plant up a pot or basket for someone – even yourself!

A patio container or hanging basket planted with seasonal flowers is a wonderful way of brightening someone’s day and with some thoughtful choosing, many of the plants you use may be added to the garden later on and the pot reused.

Although garden centres stock a wide array of ready-planted pots and baskets to give as gifts, and houseplants are another perennials favourite, it can be more personal to create your own floral gift using what you know are someone’s favourite plants.

This week I planted a small wicker basket with a blue hyacinth, a few bulbs of the delicate hoop-flowered dwarf daffodil ‘Golden Bells’, variegated ivy and some violas in mixed colours.