Solution: 8 pots of flowers on each side, * * * has: 8 × 4 = 32 (pots)

Because each side has one thing in common, that is, counting a pot of flowers, the total number of * * * is: 1 × 4 = 4 (pot).

So the outermost layer: 32-4 = 28 (basin)

Comprehensive calculation: (8- 1) × 4

= 7 × 4

= 28 (basin)