Ideas for my new planters please!

[houmousandcarrotsandwich]

have just got 2 lovely built in corner planters around the patio.

Now what to put in them?!
They are in a very bright area & would like something contemporary.
Easy is always good too.

Can you do cactus' in planters?

All ideas welcome!

yeah but you'd be hard pressed to find one that could stay out all year here and you'd have to move it (prickles and all).
Is a bay tree or herbs of any interest? Or some small orange type trees? Again would need to bring those in for winter/frost.

How big are they? what about a tree fern if quite big?

Not sure it's very contemporary but I'm a sucker for sweet peas - just stick a wigwam of canes in and get a few plants (I got a pot for £1.49 from the garden centre the other day which I separated into 5 little portions for each cane). For a more modern thing, maybe some box balls or those spiky things (cordylines?)

Lavender and rosemary are good options, add some grit to the topsoil or whatever you have in the planters to ensure adequate drainage. Beautiful smell and purple flowers. Both are contemporary in the right setting. They are both easy, prune the lavender once after flowering.