Container gardening offers endless room to experiment, even when the space itself is small. Today we’re visiting Brittney (@thepetaledit_bybritt) in Chicago, Illinois, Zone 6a, whose overflowing containers caught my eye for their color and exuberance—but the story behind them is even more meaningful.
My container gardens began during a particularly difficult season in my life. I was looking for a way to heal, to quiet my mind, and to find my way back to joy. Gardening became that place for me. There is something about putting my hands in the soil, choosing flowers, arranging colors and textures, and watching something grow that feels incredibly grounding. Gardening gives me a reason to slow down and be present. It gives me a little pocket of peace in the middle of a very full life.
What started as something I did for myself gradually became something I wanted to share with others. Creating beautiful containers and floral arrangements brings me so much joy, but sharing that creativity—and showing other people that they can create something beautiful too—has made the experience even more meaningful.
Perhaps the greatest gift has been the time gardening creates with the people I love. My husband and children have become part of the experience, whether we’re planting, watering, admiring a new bloom, or simply sitting outside together. Even my dogs seem to find their way into the garden. These moments have become some of my favorite memories.
My garden isn’t just a collection of flowers and containers. It represents a season of finding my way back to myself. It reminds me that beauty can grow out of difficult seasons, that joy can be reclaimed in small ways, and that sometimes taking care of something outside of ourselves helps us heal on the inside. That is why I garden—and why I love sharing it with others. If something as simple as a flower can help me find a little more peace and joy, I hope it can do the same for someone else.
Blue-potted garden in full bloom.
The perfect pink zinnia (Zinnia elegans and cvs., annual).
Window box wonder—little space, big impact.
White, green, and purple—a classic container.
Summer abundance in a Chicago container garden.
Summer abundance.
Thank you for sharing both your containers and the story behind them, Brittney. It’s wonderful to see how something that started as a quiet place for yourself has grown into a creative outlet you now get to enjoy and share with the people you love. That’s what gardening is all about!
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