Down, Set, Plant

An Oxford landscape designer uses self-watering containers to create gorgeous seasonal planters.

Written by Kristina May and Leslie Criss | Photographed by Joe Worthem

When Invitation Oxford asked for an Ole Miss-inspired container, professional container designer Kristina May set out to capture the spirit of a Saturday in the Grove — effortlessly stylish, deeply Southern, and ready to welcome guests all season long.

The result is a fall container that blends design savvy with down-to-earth performance. Tall white Angelonia anchors the arrangement, surrounded by layers of White Christmas caladium, airy asparagus fern, and vivid red ivy geranium. Blue My Mind evolvulus spills gently over the edge, tying in the color palette in a way that’s fresh and unexpected — think of it as a pep rally in a pot. A classic bow made with Ole Miss ribbon finishes the look.

The real game changer lies below the surface. This entire arrangement is planted in an EarthPlanter self-watering container — a product May exclusively retails in Mississippi. Made in the USA with a lifetime guarantee, EarthPlanters grow plants up to 20% larger than traditional pots and drastically reduce watering frequency, even in the height of summer.

“Mississippi heat turns most containers into Crock-Pots,” May said. “These are designed to keep roots cool and happy. Even in August, you only have to refill the reservoir once a week.”

To enhance scale and impact, May used a technique often reserved for professional-level design: a smaller container is hidden inside the larger one, elevating the thriller plant for added height. The base is then seamlessly filled with contrasting textures and color, disguising the trick while adding even more visual interest. Faux white branches and botanical blueberries lend additional structure and make the planter feel festive and full from every angle.

Combining natural beauty, practicality and performance, this container is built to shine from kickoff to frost — making it the perfect addition to any porch this fall.

To see more of May’s seasonal designs or to schedule a consultation, follow @oxfordgardenco on Instagram visit oxfordgardenco.com.

Passion for Plants

Kristina May says credit for her penchant for plants definitely goes to her mother.

“When I was in the eighth grade, my mom homeschooled my four sisters and me,” said the Atlanta native, who now lives in Oxford. “When we were studying biology, my big project was to identify every plant in our yard.”

May said she’d never paid attention to things growing in the yard before, but while completing her project, she developed a passion for plants. In fact, she received a degree in landscape design from a community college in Georgia.

These days she runs Oxford Garden Company, which she started in 2022 and currently runs out of her home. (She also went to nursing school and at times still takes care of humans, too.)

One of May’s favorite gardening tools is the self-watering container she uses for plants.

“We are the only retailer in the state that sells these wonderful containers,” she said.

“Sometimes we just don’t have time to water our plants, and this is such an amazing product.”

The EarthPlanter containers, which have a lifetime guarantee and are made in the U.S., have a water reservoir in the bottom, so plants only need water once a week, even in the heat of the summer.

“The planters are sold to municipalities and universities,” May said. “It takes all the brain work out of it. I grow my garden crops in them, too.”

May loves designing containers for people.

“You don’t have to have the perfect landscape,” she said. “With planters and pots filled with color and variety on your front porch or patio, you can turn those spaces into your own little personal oasis. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune, and you just change them out seasonally.”

Planter Pointers

Know where the pot will go. Do its plants need sun, shade or a combination of both?

Choose the right container to make your space visually pleasing and to scale. “I use the rule of thirds,” May said. “For example, if the container is going to be by a door, the container should make up at least half the height of the door.”

Use the key three planting method: tall, thick and trailing. “A container needs all these elements for good structure,” May said. “Vary leaf shape and size, so after blooms are gone, the growth in container will still have texture.”