Date: June 1, 2023 | Story: Tiffany Adams | Photography: Rett Peek |
The team behind central Arkansas-based Gloriette shares timeless planting inspiration
“Containers are my heartbeat,” says Laurie Miller, who, along with Tabietha Dillard, co-owns the outdoor accessory line Gloriette. “They give so much dimension to a typical bed and offer a place where you can be a bit more whimsical.” As proprietors of the Arkansas-based online shop, the two love to dream up different plantings and imagine how their customers might bring them to life. “Our belief at Gloriette is whether humble or lush, our gardens are a retreat from a hectic world. They should welcome friends, celebrate life’s milestones, and help us to make cherished memories,” Laurie adds.
To this point, Gloriette’s offerings have a common thread of timelessness that gives a comforting sense of familiarity and steadfastness. “Tabietha and I both want the garden to have a Southern elegance about it,” Laurie notes. One of the ways they accomplish this in their plantings is by using pulses of different green hues in their compositions rather than going wild with color. Darker green leaves next to softer, silvered ones as well as variegated additions provide visual interest. Unexpected elements come in the form of fruit vines and herbs. “In a mixed pot, the wind catches herbs and gives off a really fragrant scent in a breeze or when you walk past,” she says, adding that the herbs also bring pollinators to the garden. Here, the duo shares planting ideas—all of which can handle the heat and will thrive through the summer.
Tasty Trio
Refreshing summer treats inspired the plantings in this grouping of containers. “These sit right outside the kitchen, so the thought was you could go out to gather fruit for a cocktail or to make ice cream with the kids,” Laurie says. Both smaller containers feature blackberries mixed with fruity accents: pineapple mint on the left and strawberries and orange mint on the right. “The mints are amazing for ice cream flavoring or muddling for a cocktail,” the designer adds. The center container features a custom-built, treated-wood obelisk from Gloriette that offer a place to train climbers like jasmine, garden roses, and the clematis shown here. They can also be used in vegetable gardens for cucumbers and tomatoes. Silver plectranthus and ‘Butter Cream’ petunias spill over its lip.
Velvet boxwood, silver sage salvia, catmint, and plectranthus fill a classic terracotta pot from Gloriette’s recent collection. The fibercrete container and coordinating column, also from the line, hold a mix of rosemary and purple scaevola.
A timeless mix, this fibercrete bowl urn is filled with white and green caladiums, autumn fern, white verbena, and variegated creeping fig.
TRUSTED TIPS:
Make a Statement
Odd numbers of container groupings—such as three or five—make an eye-catching arrangement on a porch or in a garden bed.
Think Quick
Use hanging baskets and with a mix of two or three plantings to create a showstopping container in no time.
Get Children Involved
Encourage little hands to interact with containers by mixing in their favorite fruits or herbs, like berries and mint.
Learn more about Gloriette and see the full collection at shopgloriette.com.
