For those who have very limited yard space, window boxes can provide a great solution to space limitations.
By Julia Milano
On a recent visit to Charleston, I was struck by the beauty of the many window boxes that are featured on homes in the historic area of the city. During a tour of these remarkable buildings and gardens, our guide told us the tradition of these window boxes, which are pervasive throughout the old neighborhoods, is a local custom and that there are special companies staffed by knowledgeable gardeners and horticulturalists who seasonally create and tend the boxes, replacing plants as needed.
Homes in historic Charleston are narrow and have very limited yard space, so for their owners, window boxes can provide a great solution to space limitations. The wide variety of plantings, some heavily floral and others full of unique foliage add charm and dramatic color to the surrounding environment.
Historians have suggested that window boxes were first utilized in ancient Rome. Although most Romans had vegetable gardens, women wanted easy access to herbs while they cooked and placed boxes under their kitchen windows in which they planted herbs, eliminating the need to leave their kitchens.
Historic Charleston offers many delights for the senses, from the gentle clip-clop of horse trolleys which move continuously through the streets, to the glorious pastel shades of its buildings and of course, the tradition of creating small gardens in captivating window boxes.
Julia Milano, a Garland County Master Gardener, volunteers with GC Master Gardeners of the UofA Div. of Agriculture, Cooperative Ext. Service. Master Gardeners pool skills and resources to improve home horticulture, stimulate interest in plants and gardening, and encourage beautification. For more info, call 501-623-6841 or email ashaffer@uada.edu.
