Variegated Geraniums (without weeds) in planter by cash machine 28th August 2024

That looks better Balc. I do like the pretty leafed type. Have they any flower buds yet?

A great improvement, isn't it? Janey. 👍Yes, there are flower buds on them but it may be a couple of weeks before they open. They were quite small plants to begin with, from cuttings I took in the spring. Yet they look better than the plants on the balcony that get watered & fed regularly!

Isn't that just the way? That's very kind of you to grow them for the planters and take care of them. There'll be a nice bright 'pop' when the flowers are out!

I wonder if the Council have some topsoil going free ... the planters look as though they need some. That's not meant in a negative way ... just a thought!

Thanks, Janey! The variegated Geraniums give more "pop" than the flowers! 🤣

As usual you are quite right, Shirley! I think they were mostly emptied out of the majority of soil, possibly for storage, that would be replaced when planting up again. These planters have been around for many years & I have photos of them, planted up, from years ago. They have been moved all over the town, especially since new, water retaining, (self-watering ones), have been acquired.

These concrete ones are much heavier than the newer ones & being that way would be more difficult to move in the case someone wanted to hijack the cash machine they protect.

Here's a thought - remove all the soil when the plants are over - place polystyrene blocks in the base of the planters and fill with soil - thereby using only half the amount!

Email the Council Parks & Gardens Dept. with that suggestion - only don't tell them I suggested it - hahaha!

That's far too much work, Shirley! Anyway the "soil" is very poor quality, I think it's the leftovers after they were emptied & probably put into storage.

I emailed them yesterday to ask them what they plan on doing with them when the autumn planting gets under way. I also explained how they had been unattended since they were put in place in July 2023. I told them they were an eyesore & how an elderly gentleman had pulled out the weeds & how I then planted them up with plants from our balcony. I haven't received a reply yet but then I would expect it to take several days - at least! I'll let you know what they say when they get back to me.

I went to water them this afternoon & discovered a couple of bottles in one of them! I took them out & put them in a public waste bin.