The Superior Express -

A common hobby is planting and caring for flower beds. For years Janice Smidt has landscaped her yard with plants and flowers. The last two years she has tried something different. She created her own portable flower bed.

While looking through craft magazines, Janice came across a picture of a trailer made into a portable flower bed with a headboard included. Janice had a trailer she wasn't using and began to plan her own portable garden.

At a garage sale she purchased a wooden headboard for $5. She had the sides cut down so it would fit in the front of the trailer. Then she filled the trailer with brown mulch so it would resemble dirt. She chose a colorful array of flowers to put in pots and placed them in the trailer.

Last year was her first year for the portable flower bed. With all the rain, it was hard to keep the flowers from drowning. This has been a much better year for her and the plants are blooming.

The flower bed has pots of petunias, coleus, daisies and even vegetables such as tomato and cucumber plants.

Recently she had Sierra Banzhas decorate the sides of the trailer with the title "Flower Bed" with accent flowers.

Benefits of her portable flower bed - She can move the trailer around her yard for sunlight and not tear up the grass. The raised trailer makes it easier to take care of the plants. And if she gets tired of looking at the flower bed in one part of the yard, she can always move it!