Bringing Annuals Inside

Summer is coming to a close which means colder times are on the way.  I've enjoyed my annual plants this year, but most of them are getting ready to be done for the season.  In the latest Martha Stewart Living magazine, they had a great idea: bring in your annuals and pot them inside! They may not last all winter, but this will at least give them a bit more life.  AND, you can enjoy looking at them from inside your home.

We tried it with a dahlia.  This little one is struggling to survive, but after a good pruning the other day {and removal of a very hungry caterpillar}, it just might make it.   I like its home on top of the entertainment center, inside a piece of cookware I scored at a yard sale this summer for $1.

Bradley built a trellis for me the other night {he made it out of furring strips--genius, he is}, took a Mandevilla that was in our side yard, and potted it.  It was blooming so nicely, but wouldn't survive even the Georgia winter.  The corner of our family room now holds a gorgeous plant.  We'll see how it does this winter.

Of course, any time you bring plants indoors you run the risk of something like this happening:

While I was making dinner the other night, I turned around because there was some devious laughter going on, and discovered that our 2 1/2 year old had thrown dirt all over the family room!  Let's just say I was thankful Bradley was home to handle that situation.

My awesome husband also found a great resource for plant care.  Clemson University has an online resource that you can use for your gardening questions.  He was able to look up the necessary environment needed for a Mandevilla to grow indoors.

Do you have any summer annuals you could bring inside?