A Thrifted Straw Purse Planter for Summer
These straw purses exude summer beauty when planted with brightly-hued annuals that bloom tirelessly all season. Straw bags are readily and inexpensively available at thrift stores and that makes them a great option for making decorative purse planters for home decorating, summer events, and fundraising. You can very easily collect a large number of purses and convert them to planters with a few easy modifications. I planted mine with vibrant SunPatiens Compact so they will bloom all season in either sun or shade.
Disclosure: this project has been sponsored by Sakata, the creators of SunPatiens, who also provided me with the plants to try. I used Sunpatiens Compact “Royal Magenta” in this project, but there are many other gorgeous hues available.
About SunPatiens
I first noticed SunPatiens at Moss Mountain Farm in Arkansas as the coral blooms were perfectly matched to P. Allen Smith’s coral-painted porch furniture. It seems that once you notice something you really like, then you start to see it everywhere! I saw them again at the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival and again at the California Spring Trials. Read more about that and see how to make a DIY Floating Pond Planter while you are at it!
SunPatiens are a hybrid of traditional impatiens (I. walleriana) and New Guinea Impatiens (I. hawker) bred by Sakata, a Japanese seed company. The result is a variety of impatiens that thrive in full sun to partial shade, have continuous color from the spring through hard frost, can handle high heat and humid conditions, are easy to grow and low-maintenance, and are unaffected by downy mildew.
SunPatiens are unique because Sakata works with the Indonesian government and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to ensure conservation and benefit to their native country. As with everything, there are knock offs out there. Be sure to always check the tag for the SunPatiens name to be sure you are getting the real thing and truly support Sakata’s efforts.
Annuals for Summer
Not every project needs to be built to last for many years of garden beauty. Some are fleeting, just like the summer months. In some ways, this makes them even more beautiful. To enjoy something wholeheartedly for a short period of time can bring immense joy and gratitude.
I was once against annuals in my garden, as it seems like you get better value from perennials. But I have since learned the error of my ways. Annuals like Sunpatiens can provide a robust season of blooms that a perennial just cannot. Annuals bloom their hearts out and go out with a…
