clueless about window box plants

[larabell]

I'd like a bit of colour in the front of the house, so I've bought window boxes. I'm after easy to care for plants, pref. flowering, that will be colourful even this time of year. oh, and I've even managd to kill air plants in the past, so when I say easy, I really needs something quite durable that won't wilt if it doesn't get watered every 12 hours, etc. i'm not averse to an alpine type colourful thing, as long as it has a bit of height - any suggestions?

[Clanad]

Depends a great deal on the amount of sun the box will get, but try beginning with vareigated ivy (Hedera helix 'Glacier'), which trails over the sides of the box and gives the box a light, shimmery touch. Then, add a dash of red with Calibrachoa 'Superbells Red', which should be placed near the front edge of the planter, allowing it to trail slightly over the rim and mix with the ivy. (Bonus: This easy-care variety, a relative of the petunia, is a great lure for hummingbirds.) Next, for small bursts of bright color, add yellow Osteospermum 'Symphony Lemon', an African daisy. While most African daisies don't bloom during the summer, the 'Symphony' series is the exception: its cheerful blooms stay strong through August and beyond. Finally, plant Verbena 'Superbena Blue-Purple' to pick up the violet color of the daisy centers. This plant, great for hot, sunny areas, is placed along the back of the planter and will soon grow to healthy proportions that easily fill out this portion of the window box...

[willowherb]

why dont you plant them full of herbs such as lavender ..you can get pink and lavender coloured ones..and you could add some pot marigold seeds as they are really hardy..and come back every year..you could also put some of the small grasses in them to add a bit of interest..the ivy is a good idea as its their all year..also their is a herb called feverfew you can get the seeds easily and they remain golden green all winter so they are also nice .and they produce small daisy flowers in the summer....

[larabell]

Thank you both very much for your advice!