Something about spring makes me want to grow things. I don’t know if it’s the siren-smell of coming-to-life dirt, or what it is. But spring is the one time I like to dig my hands down into the earth and plant gardens and flower beds.
It’s also when my creative juices like sap, flow fast and free. Bubbling up and out into amazing ideas. Like my pallet planter for butterflies.
Because just having pretty flowers this year wasn’t good enough. Oh no, I also had to have butterflies. The real ones that flit and flutter around turning an ordinary flower-garden into a living, moving, and breathing, enchanted space.
Knowing that certain plants attract butterflies, I headed to the Monrovia website to do a little research.
My ideal plants were short – 10″ or less, they would grow well in pots, and they attracted butterflies. These beautiful pink Dianthus were the perfect fit. Since Monrovia plants are found at Lowe’s and in many local nurseries, I stopped by Lowe’s one night after work.
I easily found the Morovia plants at Lowe’s, with that bright blue sign and all!
It’s still early in our growing season so there weren’t a lot of plants there yet but the Monrovia plants looked really nice. Out of all the plants there, Monrovia plants were among the largest and nicest plants. When I went to plant them, they also had full, beautiful root balls.
I was glad to see that because it meant they were we established plants and if properly cared for, they would thrive in my planter.
Aren’t these Dianthus beautiful? I know I would be attracted if I were a butterfly!
Making the Pallet Planter for Butterflies
The pallet I grabbed from our trash-pile of could-be useful things was perfect. The middle support was a bit off-center making it perfect for my pallet planter project.
Right now you are looking at the front of my planter, which is the bottom of the pallet. All those boards need to come off.
Using the saw-saw, I cut off the wider side, leaving me with the 15″ section.
I removed 6 boards from the section I cut off and attached them to the front of my planter.
To make the “pockets” for my plants I used an old dog food bag. It was one of those plastic canvas style bags which will hold the moisture in nicely.
I cut the bag into 4 equal squares and used three of them. I stapled the bags to the front and back of the “boxes and lastly, envelope folded the sides and stapled them down.
Perfect pockets for my butterfly attracting plants!
Time to plant!
Those two empty spaces will get filled a little later. Since it’s a bit early in our growing season, Lowe’s didn’t have all of their Monvrovia plants in yet.
But I can buy my plants online and get free shipping to my local garden center. I really like the Tide Pool Speedwells which are deep blue, trailing perennials that also attract butterflies!
The blue trailing perennials will be added at a slightly later date. Right now, though my planter is all pretty-in-pink!
While buying my pink Dianthus, I found a cute little wind-chime with a butterfly that obviously needed to come home with me as well! I took the butterfly off the chimes and placed it in the top planter box and hung the chimes on the side.
It looks magical already!
Dianthus and Speedwells are not the only plants that attract butterflies. Be sure to visit Morovia and do your own search for butterfly attracting plants. Many of those plants also attract humming-birds, now how fun would that be!
Do you have a favorite flower? I’m not real sure if I do. I love Lilacs in the spring, Roses and Daisies in the summer and lilies all the time!
Do you like to buy plants online or do you prefer choose them in person at a garden center?
*** The Dianthus and Speedwells are both perennials which means they will come back year after year with proper care. I’m not yet sure if I will plant them in the ground this fall, or if I will winter my planter over in the house. Time will tell on that one. 🙂 ***
Your pallet planter looks great! I love when pallets are transformed into planters and tables. We will have to try this some day. I imagine our kids would love to paint or stain the pallets too.
I want to use white chalk paint on the top board and use a black chalk marker to write on it. 🙂
And I agree, using old pallets to make stuff is pretty cool!
LOVE THIS IDEA … GREAT TUTORIAL AND LOVE THE TIP USING THE DOG FOOD BAG… THANK YOU FOR SHARING AT SHARE IT ONE MORE TIME…TAMMY
Thanks Tammy, glad to share 🙂
That looks so pretty! I’m happy you showed how you did the inside as well because I always wonder how people create their pallet planters. I’m pinning to my what to do with a pallet board :o]
Tania
I don’t know what others do, that that worked for me 🙂
Kendra, that looks amazing! You are so clever-I wish I had your skills for DIY!
Best wishes for a wonderful week,
Natasha in Oz
Thanks Natasha, I have to admit I was really sore the next day from making this. I don’t do that kind of work often 🙂
Great idea and dianthus are one of my favorite perennials! Thanks for sharing at Something To Talk About link party!!
Thanks Angie, they are very pretty flowers and stay nice even cut.
I love this planter! This would be great for us because we don’t have any grass. We have two brick patios. My husband really loves gardening, so I’ll share this idea with him.
Navy Wifey Peters @ The Submarine Sunday Link Party
Share it and tag me if he makes one, I would love to see it!
This is beautiful! I love the size, too, perfect!
Thank you for sharing this week at Brag About It link party on VMG206. I’m featuring you at next week’s party, Monday at Midnight!
~ Megin of VMG206
Thanks Megin, the only thing not perfect is the fact it needs water daily 🙂
I absolutely LOVE it!!!! I can’t wait to make one!! Thank you for the inspiration.
This is awesome! I love that it’s narrow and tall. That seems to really highlight the flowers.
Excellent Project – love the simplicity!
Nice flower choice too, they should do well in a small growing space.
What a sweet project- I’m definitely pinning this now that we finally have out paver patio!
I stopped by from Showcase Your Talents Thursday.
Oh! We have a paver patio and love it, I’m sure you are loving yours too!
The pallet planter looks wonderful! I have never thought of buying plants online before! I don’t know much about plants in general so when I do buy them I feel like I need to actually see them to really know what I am getting. Thank you for sharing with us at the #HomeMattersParty with us this week!
I hadn’t ever thought of it before this year either! 🙂
These planters are so cute! Please come share your blog posts over at the Home Matters Linky Party! We’d love to have you for a visit. The Door is OPEN. http://lifewithlorelai.com/2015/06/25/home-matters-linky-party-43/ 🙂
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
i LOVE this planter, the pallet is great.
Fab Project 🙂
Sarah @ EDEA Smith
http://www.edea-smith.co.uk
This is very creative and super cute, Kendra!
Thanks for sharing.
Love this planter, Kendra (pretty name, by the way 😉 I love the idea of using pallets to keep the cost down! Featuring you a roundup on my blog! Hope you’re having a lovely week!
Oh how fun! I love it when I find other bloggers with such a pretty name 😉
thank you for the details on how to build a pallet planter. I pinned it. I have to pallets and will make one very soon. It’s a great idea.