My mother’s windowsill favorite was African violets. They don’t do well for me outside, way too much rain, but they are wonderful for a sill which is where mom grew them. Inside, they are an easy plant to maintain as long as you pick the correct windowsill.

If you are fortunate enough to have a bay window, you have lots of space for things. I remember a friend with a big window who grew pots of tomatoes all winter, hand-pollinating them when they came into flower. She also grew some lovely vines that she trained with string and staples. They were a great window display.

And that’s just windowsills. If you want to go small, try a terrarium. These can be made of so many materials – the classic fish tank (or even fishbowl), the bottle garden, or even a garden in a jar!

Mosses make a great start for these “mini-gardens” but there are small ferns like Pellaea rotundifolia and miniature begonias that are perfect for them. If you are planning on a dry garden, Sedum and Portulaca mixed with a small cactus are a wonderful idea.

Did you want something bigger? How about putting a lovely pot in the corner willed with ferns or mini-palms combined with Columnea or a trailing ivy? Want to hang it on the wall? A low-light bromeliad can be mounted on a plaque and hung in just the right spot to be eye-catching.

Is there more? Of course, but maybe next week.

Plant of the week.  This Clerodendrum vine did not start life as a patio plant. It was supposed to grow on a trellis near the pool but the leaf-cutter ants (!!) decided to have it as dessert. Now potted, it is doing well. Usually grown in full sun, this vine has had to adapt to a lower less direct light, but as long as the ants can’t get to it, it will continue to do well. Outdoors, water frequently in the dry season.