what flowers to grow in pots for a window sill at this time of year?

[menthe]

I know the forum teems with knowlegeable gardeners and I have a little knowledge myself.

But this has to be practically no fail.  There is a little old lady in my village whose window sill always has 2 or 3 pots to brighten her road and I like walking past her house.

Recently, I learned that her husband is in a maison retraite and madame is pretty well housebound.  Her neighbour tells me in passing that he does her shopping and little jobs.  

She now has a bare window sill and I thought I'd get some little plants together and put them in a pretty pot for her window sill.

What would grow at this time of year?  The spot she is in is not particularly sunny.  Is it OK to, say, put in some spring bulbs, even though I'd prefer to give her something with a splash of cheerful colour.  I think some instant colour just to brighten up the spot would make it look more as usual.

[Noisette]

Little heathers, dyed or not, small-flowered violas are more dependable than pansies, cyclamen (probably won't keep going right through winter but make a nice splash of colour and the leaves are attractive), small-leaved, variegated ivy with tête à tête narcissi and/or dwarf tulips such as Greigii.

[menthe]

Thank you, Noisesette.  I was hoping you'd come and say something!

OK, off to the garden centre after tomorrow.  In the meantime, I'll sort out a pretty pot from the collection unused in piles in the shed, since OH fell ill and no longer seems to be much interested.

[anotherbanana]

Wish I had window sills!

[Noisette]

I just do a couple of biggish pots either side of the front door nowadays.  It makes for a lot less watering in summer!  With over 50 terrace plants, there's quite enough of that to do 😁

Ah, just remembered, @menthe.  Heucheras are very useful for foliage effect and have delicate spikes of pink or red flowers, too. There's a vast choice of colours  🙂

Edited November 10 by Noisette

[anotherbanana]

Agree entirely about terrace pots and heucheras.

[Polarengineer]

This time of year try Shlumbergera  truncata or Christmas cactus. Ours is absolutely full of bloom.

[Noisette]

That would be on the inside, PE? Temps are going to dip sharply this week and I wouldn't have thought they'd survive near-frosts?

[menthe]

Thanks again, Noisette.  Shops will be open tomorrow so will look around and read the labels!