Window Box Plant Stands - DIY

 I was picking through the shed and came across two plastic window planter boxes.  I probably got them at the end of last summer because I didn't use them anywhere.
   Last Spring,  the neighbor out in front of us cut down a few 50' pine trees.   The trees shaded the front of our house nicely.  I miss those trees.  They kept our second floor relatively cool during the summer.  They blocked the late afternoon sun which now means all that sun beats through all our skylights and windows.  It gets very HOT now.
I've been thinking of way to block some of that sun and add some privacy.  I'm going to start with the window boxes and make plant stands.  Grow some vines and put them up on the balcony to the master bedroom.

I didn't want to hang the planters over the railing so I thought I'd make some stands for them.  I had some leftover pieces of salvaged wood 2 by 6's and made these stands for the planters.  I gathered some twigs and sticks during my yard clean up and just tacked them onto the front for a rustic cabin feeling.

I lightly spray painted the planters with brown spray paint since they were of different color and style.

I planted a variety of  morning glory seeds in each one and I plan to make a small stick trellis for each planter so the morning glories will grow upward.
I placed each planter at opposite ends of the balcony.  They workout great and don't take up a lot of space.
I also placed a ficus tree out on the balcony in the middle.  It should help knock down some of the sun out there.  I could always put up blinds and room darkening curtains, but I love the sheer curtains and how the morning sun comes in not to mention the cross breeze is to die for.  Why have lots of windows and skylights if you have to block them ?
  Take note , since the neighbor cut down all the trees, I planted 10 more trees of flowering , fruit and pine.  It will take a few more years before the house is shaded again but it surely will be worth the wait.  I'm going to keep on buying and planting more trees to bring the area back to it's original state. It's amazing how one neighbor can ruin it and not finish the job....
                I'll take a pic to show you bad it is and post here later.