Container Gardens of the North

Did you notice that almost every picture from our trip to Alaska and Canada includes dark skies, clouds, misty fog, rain, or some combination of the same? The sun punched its way through from time to time, casting brilliant light all around, but the overarching weather was drizzly rain.

Traffic circle in downtown Juneau, Alaska

Pansies and asters in the Haines Junction picnic area

Enter container gardens of the north! We saw them everywhere - containers of all shapes and sizes filled with bright cheerful annuals. Here are a few examples that you might enjoy.

Giorgio's in Whitehorse, Yukon

Alpine Bakery in Whitehorse

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Raised bed in Haines Junction

Hanging baskets at the Raven	Innovative container
Pocket garden with dahlias	Welcome to Kluane Inn

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The containers come in all shapes and sizes, and serve as raised beds, ensuring drainage to protect the roots, and air flow to reduce mold. The combinations of colors, shapes, and textures are so creative! Seeing these miniature gardens brightens the day for anyone slogging through the rain, or viewing dramatic scenery shrouded in mist.

Rain barrel container in Juneau

Rain barrel in Haines

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Closely related is the pocket garden - a small space where someone has planted a tiny garden. We saw a few of them as well.

Pocket garden in Juneau

Another pocket garden in Juneau

The garden season is short and intense in the north, so gardeners must make the most of it. Planting cheerful containers or pocket gardens of bright flowers is a great solution!

Bottom of the porch pocket garden

Container of pinks in Juneau

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