Quick winter spruce-ups

6. Accent the front entry

Flank the entry with potted plants.

At right, fountainlike burgundy cordyline plays off white cyclamen and plum 'Palace Purple' heuchera in bowls atop brick pillars. The pot at the base contains white cyclamen, lamium, and red nandina.

7. Hang a simple wreath

To welcome family and friends, hang an evergreen wreath from a ribbon that coordinates with the flowers and foliage. Tie the ribbon to a gate, or hang several wreaths at different heights from tree branches.

Related story: Beautiful wreaths and garlands

8. Group pots

Dress a doorstep with containers.

The pots pictured at right, of different sizes but the same color, contain plants in shades that echo the garden's overall scheme. In the smallest pot, fiber optics plant mixes with heuchera, lamium, and cyclamen. In the one at left, nandina pops against lamium, cyclamen, and hellebore. The tallest pot holds fine-leafed rosemary, cordyline, cyclamen, and heuchera.

Related story: Easy gardening with containers