T?here's nothing like a window box full of glorious blooms and foliage to brighten your day.
Whether it's looking outside your own window at the flowers that have bloomed overnight, or spotting a gorgeous display on a building as you walk by, window boxes just make the very architectural feature they adorn so much better.
They are easy to plant and care for too, and can even be popped on a balcony railing for those who don't have or can't install window boxes.
You are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing plants for window boxes, and could theoretically pop in anything that doesn't grow too high.
But the best window box plants are the ones that drape dramatically over the side or sit neatly inside the box.
Read on for 10 excellent additions you should try out in your window box.?
P?ansies are the perfect window box option for the cooler months, which is when you'll typically find them in garden centres.
They come in a huge variety to help you add plenty of colour to a winter garden.
A? top choice for beginner gardeners, geraniums are hardy plants that add a happy burst of colour to your garden.
There are many types to choose from including the 'big red' variety (similar to the flower pictured), or something that has more of a trailing effect? like a geranium Rozanne or a pelargonium.
Fuchsias are shade plants, but they still need sun so they work well in a spot with filtered light or morning sun.
This perennial plant blooms from spring to late autumn and comes in many colours including pink and purple.?
They might look like little petunias, but these flowers are calibrachoa. Known for their bell-like shape, they have a spreading habit, making them perfect for window boxes.
Calibrachoas bloom from late spring to late autumn and come in lots of different colours.?
If flowers aren't your thing or you want to add a contrast to your non-trailing flowers, dichondra silver falls are a stunning choice.
The ?pale green flowers cascade over the sides of a planter, making them perfect for window boxes, where they can drape to their heart's content.
Petunias are another colourful plant that works well in window boxes, hanging baskets and pots.
A summer plant, petunias do well in full sun and warm weather.
Impatiens are incredible plants for beginners as they are so easy to grow and care for.
They do prefer the shade, so impatiens are a top choice if your window box is out of the sun.?
If you fancy growing some fruit in your window box, you could try strawberries.
Then you'll have something pretty to look at that also grows produce.
Herbs also do well in window boxes if you prefer that option to strawberries.?
F?or a trailing and spreading plant that has small, delicate flowers, try bacopa.
Available in white, blue and pink colours, bacopa like a full sun to part shade spot and flower from spring to autumn.
With bright flowers and deep green leaves, begonia look striking in window boxes.
Best suited to shade and moist soil, there are several types of begonia to choose from.
Both wax begonias (pictured) and tuberous begonias (which have rose-like double petals) work well in window boxes and hanging baskets.