you've probably seen these troughs at flower and garden shows or nurseries, planted with succulents or rock garden varieties, at costs approaching, or even exceeding, one hundred dollars! There have been numerous how-to recipes circulating around for years but this is the first I've come across that actually seems doable. The recipe ingredients are easily colected and the directions clear and simple to execute. However, I did notice that there was no mention of the weight of the finished trough. It is, afterall, made from cement! It'll be much heavier when the hypertufa is wet ,therefore, I would suggest you create it where it will be as close as possible to the shady spot it needs for drying. I especially love the idea of embedding leaves in the rim to give it that antique ,fossilized look. If you decide to make a trough, photograph it so we can put it on the blog. A fun project to do with your children!
If your looking for an annual that gives you a big bang for the effort 
(and who isn't?), consider morning glories. Those old-fashioned, easy-to-grow plants we grew in kindergarten. The colors range from white, to reds and pinks and gorgeous shades of blue and purple. Some are dawn bloomers, others will bloom all day. In the same family as the morning glories (ipomoea) you'll find the moon flowers, cypress vines and cardinal climbers, offering very different flower shapes and leaf textures. And if this isn't enought to get you to try this group of annuals, there are the sweet potato vines now available in a myriad of colors.
With the cost of purchasing perennial plants rising every year, it might be time to consider growing some of your own. Would you have ever thought that lupines, penstemons and primroses would be considered 'easy' to grow? The how-to for success with these and other perennials is discussed in this issue of the Fine Gardening e-newsletter. With a little bit of time and patience, you can fill your garden with colorful perennials at a bargain price.
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