How to Make a Window Box Garden
2021-05-25
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1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
2For many people, warm weather means growing things in the ground.
3Gardening is popular activity all around the world.
4But what about people who do not have the space to garden? Not to worry!
5Today, we will give you information about growing beautiful window boxes.
6Associated Press writer Beth Harpaz talked to several expert gardeners, and they shared their suggestions.
7Window boxes are not just for the outside edge of the window, called the sill.
8They can also sit on other structures such as, walls, porches, or front steps.
9If you live in an apartment without outdoor space, you can garden in a window box.
10"But safety first: People do get killed by falling window boxes," says Nina Browne.
11She is the community program manager at New York's Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
12Make sure your window boxes are secure so they will not come down in a storm.
13Because of these possible dangers, window boxes are sometimes banned by property owners.
14If that is the case where you live or if you feel your window box could be unsafe, you can have an indoor window box.
15Before choosing plants, check your window box location for light and rain.
16Window boxes dry out faster than in-ground plants.
17So, they need more water.
18And if a window box is close to a wall or other structure, it may not get enough rainwater.
19Even if all your windows get little sun, do not give up.
20Browne says one of her greatest successes as a gardener is a beautiful window box in a full-shade spot.
21She gets a great look using plants and flowers that love the shade.
22Many shade-loving plants -- like caladium and oxalis -- have leaves in beautiful colors and interesting shapes.
23Some vegetables such as sweet potato and peas have vines and add interest to a window box.
24Now, let's talk about succulents.
25These are plants that hold water inside them and are often found in dry environments.
26Matthew Pottage is an expert gardener at the Royal Horticultural Society Garden Wisley in Surrey, England.
27His window box full of drought-tolerant plants has "survived the wet and cold of London for some seven years."
28Another gardener, Steph Green, is the owner of Contained Creations in Richmond, Virginia.
29She uses plants that add different colors, heights, and plant structure.
30She may select a tall plant such as dwarf Alberta spruce and sago palm for the back of the box.
31To fill the space, she could use plants such as boxwood or dusty miller.
32Then she might choose sweet potato vine or petunias to grow down from the box.
33For shade boxes, she likes to use Kimberly queen fern and Dracaena lemon lime; boxwood, coral bells, and impatiens; creeping Jenny, dead nettle and English ivy.
34You can grow herbs and edible flowers, like parsley, basil, and nasturtiums.
35If the window box is big enough you can grow some types of vegetables like peppers.
36You can even add small, wooden structures for the plants to grow up. Get creative!
37So, what gives some window boxes their "wow" factor while others are just so-so?
38Create a theme! This is a central idea for the plants.
39For example, you may have a widow box that is all cactuses or all edible plants.
40Or you could have a color-themed window box with only purple flowers and plants.
41Gardeners Chantal Aida Gordon and Ryan Benoit turn "window box" into a verb.
42Their book "How to Window Box" shows how to create eye-catching window boxes.
43For more ideas you can check out their website, The Horticult.
44Besides having a theme, Benoit adds that upkeep is important.
45"People who have really nice window boxes," he said, cut off anything dead.
46He adds that they also water their window boxes often and change things a lot.
47He suggests knowing which plants look best during each season.
48That means replacing spring flowers -- for example tulips and hyacinths -- with summer flowers, like petunias and zinnias.
49In colder weather, try mums and flowering kale.
50And Benoit warns to not let quick-growing plants get out of control.
51Whether you are an experienced window box gardener or trying it for the first time - this small project might be just what you need.
52And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo. And I'm Bryan Lynn.
1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. 2For many people, warm weather means growing things in the ground. Gardening is popular activity all around the world. 3But what about people who do not have the space to garden? Not to worry! Today, we will give you information about growing beautiful window boxes. 4Associated Press writer Beth Harpaz talked to several expert gardeners, and they shared their suggestions. 5Location and safety 6Window boxes are not just for the outside edge of the window, called the sill. They can also sit on other structures such as, walls, porches, or front steps. 7If you live in an apartment without outdoor space, you can garden in a window box. "But safety first: People do get killed by falling window boxes," says Nina Browne. She is the community program manager at New York's Brooklyn Botanic Garden. 8Make sure your window boxes are secure so they will not come down in a storm. Because of these possible dangers, window boxes are sometimes banned by property owners. If that is the case where you live or if you feel your window box could be unsafe, you can have an indoor window box. 9Light and water 10Before choosing plants, check your window box location for light and rain. Window boxes dry out faster than in-ground plants. So, they need more water. And if a window box is close to a wall or other structure, it may not get enough rainwater. 11Even if all your windows get little sun, do not give up. Browne says one of her greatest successes as a gardener is a beautiful window box in a full-shade spot. She gets a great look using plants and flowers that love the shade. 12Many shade-loving plants -- like caladium and oxalis -- have leaves in beautiful colors and interesting shapes. Some vegetables such as sweet potato and peas have vines and add interest to a window box. 13Now, let's talk about succulents. These are plants that hold water inside them and are often found in dry environments. Matthew Pottage is an expert gardener at the Royal Horticultural Society Garden Wisley in Surrey, England. His window box full of drought-tolerant plants has "survived the wet and cold of London for some seven years." 14Another gardener, Steph Green, is the owner of Contained Creations in Richmond, Virginia. She uses plants that add different colors, heights, and plant structure. 15She may select a tall plant such as dwarf Alberta spruce and sago palm for the back of the box. To fill the space, she could use plants such as boxwood or dusty miller. Then she might choose sweet potato vine or petunias to grow down from the box. 16For shade boxes, she likes to use Kimberly queen fern and Dracaena lemon lime; boxwood, coral bells, and impatiens; creeping Jenny, dead nettle and English ivy. 17You can grow herbs and edible flowers, like parsley, basil, and nasturtiums. If the window box is big enough you can grow some types of vegetables like peppers. You can even add small, wooden structures for the plants to grow up. Get creative! 18The "wow" factor 19So, what gives some window boxes their "wow" factor while others are just so-so? Create a theme! This is a central idea for the plants. For example, you may have a widow box that is all cactuses or all edible plants. Or you could have a color-themed window box with only purple flowers and plants. 20Gardeners Chantal Aida Gordon and Ryan Benoit turn "window box" into a verb. Their book "How to Window Box" shows how to create eye-catching window boxes. For more ideas you can check out their website, The Horticult. 21Besides having a theme, Benoit adds that upkeep is important. "People who have really nice window boxes," he said, cut off anything dead. He adds that they also water their window boxes often and change things a lot. 22He suggests knowing which plants look best during each season. That means replacing spring flowers -- for example tulips and hyacinths -- with summer flowers, like petunias and zinnias. 23In colder weather, try mums and flowering kale. And Benoit warns to not let quick-growing plants get out of control. 24Whether you are an experienced window box gardener or trying it for the first time - this small project might be just what you need. 25And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo. And I'm Bryan Lynn. 26Beth Harpaz wrote this story for the Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. 27____________________________________________________________ 28Words in This Story 29garden - n. an area of ground where plants (such as flowers or vegetables) are grown : gardener - n. one who gardens 30porch - n. a structure attached to the entrance of a building that has a roof and that may or may not have walls 31shade - n. an area of slight darkness that is produced when something blocks the light of the sun 32leaf - n. one of the flat and typically green parts of a plant that grow from a stem or twig 33vine - n. a plant whose stem requires support and which climbs by tendrils or twining or creeps along the ground 34drought-tolerant - adj. Plants that can live in dry climates and withstand not being watered often. 35select - v. to choose (someone or something) from a group 36herb - n. a plant or a part of a plant that is used as medicine or to give flavor to food 37edible - adj. fit or safe to eat 38wow factor - adj. a quality or feature of something that makes people feel great excitement or admiration 39so-so - adj. moderately well