Our small, shared roof garden needs to fit people, a patio table and chairs, a few lounge chairs, two grills, and the occasional dog or two. And then there’s the plants! We’re running out of space for plants! While Sunset Magazine’s table-as-container-garden would create a special new space for plants, it is not so practical.
Umbrella planters are a more straight forward way to bring plants to the patio table.
Image: Sunset Magazine
Brooklyn Roof Garden 
Posted by thezenofmaking on June 9, 2010 at 12:57 pm
I definitely love the look of unlikely containers-turned-terrariums, but would worry about the plants getting enough oxygen if the glass fit snugly on top. I guess you could always take the top off overnight, when the table wouldn’t be in use anyway. :)
Posted by Xris (Flatbush Gardener) on June 22, 2010 at 7:58 am
I like the idea. It’s a temporary display, not a permanent planting. Make a planter serve double-duty for a party, providing extra serving space, for example. Then remove the top and return it to its usual site after.
All my containers have plants growing out of them, so couldn’t serve this purpose!