Around the west in 21 pots

Sunset, May, 2000 by Kathleen N. Brenzel

Pots. Left: Nubby ceramic; about 24 inches wide, 22 inches deep. Center: Stained terra-cotta; 18 inches wide, 18 inches deep. Right: Stained terra-cotta; 19 inches wide, 20 inches deep.

Nevada

SAGEBRUSH AND SILVER

Rugged red earth backed by snowcapped mountains inspired this pot's color theme. The artemisia's lacy gray foliage stays beautiful for a season; after that, the plant quickly outgrows the confines of a pot. Dusty miller (Senecia cineraria) makes a handsome and slower-growing substitute. Sun.

Plants. Artemisia 'Powis Castle', with Carex buchananii (straw-colored sedge) and Zinnia angustifolia 'Crystal White'.

Pot. Chocolate-colored stoneware; 14 inches wide, 12 inches deep.

Arizona

DESERT IN BLOOM

The Southwest deserts are filled with plants both soft (wildflowers) and sculptural (yuccas and cactus). This pot combines the two, with the bloomers surrounding a single yucca.

Plants. Yucca whipplei (from a 1-gallon can), with red Salvia greggii and Verbena peruviana (from 4-inch pots).

Pot. Glazed terra-cotta with Southwest motif; 16 inches wide, 13 inches deep.

New Mexico

SANTA FE BALSA

Bright primary colors--the sassy shades of folk-art wood carvings and fiesta decorations--inspired these two pots filled to bursting with summer-blooming annuals and perennials. The pots' textured surfaces and rosy tones blend well with sandstone payers. Most of the plants are from 4-inch nursery pots. Sun.

Plants. Center: Gaura lindheimeri, with blue Salvia farinacea, creeping zinnia (Sanvitalia procumbens), dwarf French marigold (Tagetes patula), light blue Lobelia erinus, 'Profusion Orange' zinnia, red Geum chiloense 'Mrs. Bradshaw', and red Salvia greggii. Right: Carmine Cosmos bipinnatus Sonata series, with blue Lobelia erinus and dwarf French marigold.

Pots. Center: Tapered jar; 13 inches wide, 18 inches deep. Right: Textured ceramic; 15 inches wide, 7 1/2 inches deep.

Idaho

WILDERNESS RIVERS

Spilling conifers and earth-toned flowers capture the spirit of Idaho with its many lakes, rivers, and forests. The tall golden Hinoki false cypress echoes the yellow of the yarrow, while the bronze-red flowers of coreopsis and gaillardia add punch and contrast handsomely with the shore pine's cool blue needles. Sun. Design: Bud Stuckey.

Plants. Left: Hinoki false cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Aurea'), with Coreopsis tinctoria, gaillardia, gloriosa daisy (Rudbeckia birta), shore pine (Pinus contorta), and yarrow (Achillea). Right: Shore pine, with baby's tears (Soleirolia soleirolii) and gloriosa daisy.

Pots. Left: Green-stained terra-cotta, 19 1/2 inches wide (inside), 14 inches deep. Right: Stone bowl, 14 1/2 inches wide (inside), 7 inches deep.

Utah

ALPINE SNOW (PAGE 160)

Snow-covered peaks, and the alpine plants that grow there, inspired this arrangement. Rosy-tipped Sedum spurium 'Dragon's Blood' rambles around a single firecracker penstemon (from a 4-inch pot), with a silvery lamb's ears shimmering in front. Sun.

Plants. Red firecracker penstemon, with lamb's ears (Stachys byzantina) and 'Dragon's Blood' sedum.