Windowboxes are the saving grace of many a house and garden, especially when you're too busy to do much else.

And if you are in the throes of building work, they're probably the only thing you can do. Whatever the state of the surrounding land, they provide some semblance of a garden with a cheering view from indoors and out. The plants are well out of the way of builder's big feet, and can be removed quickly and easily if you need to do work to the window.