Rumor has it that the PPP are patrolling a neighborhood near you. If you are not into acronyms, PPP stands for the Patio Planter Police.

According to one of their high level spokesmen, it is no longer permissible to use geraniums, spikes and vinca vine in the same pot. You may use any two of these together but must find a substitute for the third one.

To help with this problem I will offer some suggestions. Most often I am asked for suggestions to get height in the center of the pot, so I'll offer a list of plants that offer height.

Gaura. Also called 'Whirling Butterflies' approaches two feet in height and offers airy blooms all season. My favorite has green leaves and a white flower with a hint of pink. There are other cultivars with darker leaves and flowers.

Agastache. Again maybe two feet in height with several flower colors available. Rub the leaves and the odor is appealing. Either the annual or the perennial cultivars will work. In the pot the perennials will not be perennial.

Coleus. They come in a multitude of colors and range in height from one to three feet. The new named vegetative cultivars are very tolerant of the sun, unlike the older seed varieties.

Black and Blue Salvia. This is a favorite. Deep green leaves, dark blue flowers and purple-black stems on a plant again in the two to three foot range.

Salvia leucanthus. Often called Mexican sage this is an excellent choice for those who are patient. It has silver gray foliage, reaches three feet and has a bicolor blue (purple) and white flower. The wait generally is until fall for the bloom.

Elephant ears. Very large leaves give a foliage effect. If fed enough they can get to four feet, but generally will be just over two. Leaf colors can be green, black or green with a light stripe.

Turnera ulimifolia. Highly recommended but new. Haven't seen it but it should approach three or four feet and offer a fairly large flat yellow flower.

Cannas. Think of a slightly taller skinny version of elephant ears. Frequently grown for the foliage but I would never cut off the flowers as some people suggest.

Grasses. I like the red annual pennisetums but they are intolerant of cold temperatures, so don't rush this one. Perennial grasses work, but generally are too slow growing to be effective unless you start with a large size. Again, you don't have a prayer of over wintering them in a pot without a heated greenhouse.

Cardoon. You will only hug this plant once. Tall, to about 5 feet, with deeply serrated gray foliage. The flower is a mauvc thistle type in mid summer.

There is a list of ten suggestions for height in a patio garden. If you like spikes and I do, you have a multitude of possibilities that trail over the side or to circle your center height.

If you insist on the geraniums, spike and vinca vine don't worry. I won't turn you in.

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