My girls and I are hanging out in our old hometown of Cincinnati this week and we’ve got the best accommodations in town (a.k.a. mom and dad’s house). They have the most beautiful outdoor living space and garden, including several large planters that my mom fills with different combinations of flowers every year. I love the mix of flowers that she used this year:

Unfortunately, my mom didn’t pass down that green thumb of hers to me, but being a gardener wanna-be, I try to pick up on as many of her tips and tricks as I can. When choosing flowers for outdoor planters, she subscribes to the “thriller, spiller, and filler” philosophy. It’s so simple that even I could pull it off. She picks a “thriller”, which is a bold plant with height, to place at the back of the container:
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Coleus “thriller” |
Then adds a “spiller” (trailing plant that hangs over the edge of the planter) to the front:
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Variegated Vinca “spiller” |
And fills the space in between with (you guessed it) a “filler”:
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Flowering Vinca “Filler” |

The two large outdoor planters sit on both sides of this gorgeous stone water feature:



And this beautiful covered patio overlooks it all:

Complete with an outdoor kitchen that’s a barbecuer’s dream:

So if you’ve noticed that I haven’t been blogging as much as usual this week, now that you’ve got this visual, you can’t blame me, right?! There’s not much motivation to go inside and get on the computer with this gorgeous outdoor space calling my name! Even my third girl (the furry one) never wants to come inside from her grandma’s garden:

I hope you all are enjoying a great week too, getting half as spoiled as we are 🙂

Oooooooh your parent’s outdoor space is so dreamy. I love the gravel and mulch areas with the stepping stones, and that grille area is seriously my husband’s dream come true. And the pots! Beautiful. Enjoy your time there!!
WOW!! Absolutely gorgeous, Kris! All that and mom’s cooking, clearly life is good!! Enjoy your time with them and your friends there! 🙂
What a beautiful outdoor space! Your mom definitely has a green thumb. And, my hubby would die for that grill area!!
Lovely out door living space!! 2 green thumbs up!!
Your parent’s outdoor spaces are absolutely gorgeous!
The pavers and Hydrangia. Love
I can’t get enough of beautiful outdoor spaces! The gardens and water feature make me want to grab a good book and read.
Have a wonderful visit.
Enjoy your days!
Gloria
Your backyard is stunning Kris! I’m surprised you only shared it now and that outdoor kitchen? a dream! I bought one last year too and all I could wish for now is an outdoor sink! LOL! Mixing plants is not my cup of tea, I just buy potted flowers to be done with, love yours though. Enjoy!