Window Box Ideas from Camden Maine
This beautiful window box full of my favorite color flowers was outside a storefront in Camden, Maine.
As I mentioned in my last post, Michael and I recently visited Camden, Maine, to attend the Camden Garden Club House and Garden Tour. The town is full of inspiring container ideas. So many, in fact, that I split the photos into two posts. This one covers window boxes, and the previous post pictured pots and hanging baskets. To read it, click here.
Nursery News: Carolyn’s Shade Gardens is a retail nursery located in Bryn Mawr, PA, specializing in showy, colorful, and unusual plants for shade. The only plants that we ship are snowdrops and miniature hostas. For catalogues and announcements of events, please send your full name, location, and phone number (for back up use only) to carolyn@carolynsshadegardens.com. Click here to get to the home page of our website for catalogues and information about our nursery and to subscribe to our blog.
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In containers, you can often use colors that wouldn’t necessarily go well together in the garden.
I was very impressed that most local businesses in Camden invested in flower-filled containers along the sidewalk. It was very attractive and complemented all the plantings maintained by the Camden Garden Club. The Camden Library grounds are especially beautiful. Even if you are just passing through Camden, it is worth stopping to walk around. The harbor is gorgeous, and there are lots of wonderful restaurants—more on that later.
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This display was particularly creative with the use of a wooden oar and driftwood in this seaside town.
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It is not necessary to get fancy: very traditional and very pretty.
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There is a tendency to go with bold colors in containers, and I do that myself. However, this combination of yellow, white, and silver is quite elegant.
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We saw the chef from this restaurant collecting nasturtiums for culinary use. Containers are not just for viewing. I intend to put my basil and parsley in my window boxes next year.
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Unlike plastic pots, baskets lined with moss or another organic material are aesthetically pleasing when first planted and the container is still visible.
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This restaurant down by the waterfront went all out with window boxes lining both stories. All the remaining photos are of planting combinations from this location.
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Restaurant patrons seated by the windows got not only a beautiful harbor view but also lovely flower arrangements.
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I hope you have gotten a few ideas from Camden’s flowers—I know I have!
Carolyn
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Carolyn’s Shade Gardens is a local retail nursery in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, U.S., zone 6b/7a. The only plants that we mail order are snowdrops and miniature hostas and only within the US.
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CAROLYN'S SHADE GARDENS 
July 31, 2015 at 1:47 pm
What a lovely selection of window boxes, it makes such an impression when everyone joins in, a real welcome to all the visitors.
August 3, 2015 at 10:31 am
Pauline, All the flowers make walking around Camden very pleasant despite all the tourists. Carolyn
July 31, 2015 at 2:33 pm
Ahh to be in the northeast. Alas in Alabama all of lobelia and pansies have fried because of the heat and humidity. The window boxes are beautiful. Thanks
August 3, 2015 at 10:33 am
Diane, We probably have the same problem in Pennsylvania where it has been in the 90s a lot, but in Maine 75 to 80 degrees is the norm. Another reason to visit! Carolyn
August 2, 2015 at 11:39 pm
Love them!
I’m a big fan of coleus but the one in your first picture was always a pattern and color I disliked…. until now! With the petunias it’s amazing, I really like it. I may have to start planting petunias again and give that coleus a try.
August 3, 2015 at 10:34 am
Frank, I really like petunias especially now that they come in designer colors. They are easy to grow and just bloom and bloom. Carolyn
August 3, 2015 at 1:36 pm
Window boxes are my favorite and I usually have good luck with them. I agree about the mixing of colors; it’s so much fun. Loved these; nice photography. Jim
August 3, 2015 at 3:44 pm
Jim, In my garden, I grow nothing but perennials and mostly in the shade so containers give me a chance to experiment with annuals in the sun. Carolyn
August 4, 2015 at 8:20 pm
Very nice, Carolyn. I do like the yellow and white combo also. Here, doing containers is an art too. Many garden tours have unique displays.
August 5, 2015 at 11:05 am
Donna, I have seen your photos of the Buffalo Garden Tour (not to be missed if anyone is in the area) and I am sure there are many great container ideas there. Carolyn
August 5, 2015 at 11:20 am
Yes there are, but in Canada this year I saw some that really were spectacular. I did not get to any of the Buffalo gardens this year. Too busy. Quality, creative and colorful like you have shown.
August 14, 2015 at 3:08 pm
Thank you for this lovely share, Carolyn! Fantastic ideas ❤
August 17, 2015 at 11:27 am
So glad you enjoyed it, Lily.
August 15, 2015 at 9:05 am
Be still my heart…thanks for more of the containers from Maine….I adore the bright oranges in the first one and all the yellows, but the oar one was very creative and the look of those nasturtiums leaves left me breathless. I need to get mine to grow better, but they need bigger pots so I am taking notes for next year!
August 17, 2015 at 11:28 am
Donna, glad you got some good ideas—that’s what these posts are for. Carolyn
August 16, 2015 at 5:22 pm
Very inspirational, Carolyn. I have five window boxes so I am always looking for ideas. P. x
August 17, 2015 at 11:29 am
Pam, that’s the great thing about containers—you can change them every year! Carolyn