What can i do with planter box?

i recently purchased a cement planter box. why i am not quite sure, maybe because it was on sale. well i live in the midwest and if we are lucky we have 3 months of nice weather, so i dont want to plant flowers in there which will only last a short time. and i dont want artificial flowers. can anyone give me ideas on what to put in there year round that would look nice. you really cant see it from the street, so appearance isnt something im worried about. i just want to fill it with something that isnt just rock or dirt.

What can i do with planter box?
Set individual potted plants inside of it.





If it's large enough, turn it upside down and use it as a garden seat. If it's not large, turn it upside down and use it as a footrest for a garden chair. Leave it right side up and set a sheet of plaexiglass across the top: voila! a garden coffee table.





Paint it to match your house's exterior and set it on your porch, or near the door you use most, and use it for muddy shoes or whatever else might gather on your doorstep.





Use it as a candle holder. Fill it high enough with sand that you can see the candles above the top edge, Stand pillar candles in it and you've got a showpiece for evening time in your yard. You could use glass hurricanes with them if you want.
Reply:Small water feature would be cool!
Reply:Put a bird feeder or bird bath in the center of it! The birds will enjoy it more than 3 months out of the year, and they can be fun to watch.
Reply:You don't mention the size of your cement planter box, or whether you will have it in shade, part shade, or full sun. Few plants will survive year-round, but here are some options:


1. Shade: Hostas (perennial). Rich moist soil.


2. Part shade: Hostas (perennial). Monkey grass or another ornamental grass (perennial and in some cases evergreen).


3. Sun: Moss roses (Portulaca). Self-seeding annual; likes hot, dry, dusty weather. Monkey grass or another ornamental grass. Sweet potato vine (annual, but gorgeous and spreading).





All of the above plants are inexpensive and easy to care for.





What would I do? You have horizontal interest (planter); add sweeping interest (monkey or other ornamental grass); add vertical interest (rocks slightly taller than the monkey grass). I would add a sweet potato vine to one end. This type of arrangement is almost foolproof and you will smile every time you see it!
Reply:you could always bring it in, paint it, hang it on the wall, and use it as a shadow box.





although i dont know how big it is.
Reply:sea shells or pine cones or even hedge apples because if you put edge apples around your house it keeps out all the little bug critters , or you could feel it up with sand and dye some of the sand to dffrent colors while you feel it up ,small kids toys that lay in the yard and get hit by the lawn mower , if it would fit you could put your garden hoes in there or the attachments for your garden hose