Create Magic Combinations In Your Garden

Use Color, Texture, and Size
Using complimentary colors, textures, and sizes can create eye catching displays within your garden. You may already have a good source of varieties available in your garden now that could be re-arranged.

In our haste to get some life in our gardens, we sometimes just put our purple petunias over here and our marigolds over there, etc. I've been there, done that! Before you know it you end up with a garden with plenty of color but it just doesn't "ring your chimes".

Try Some of These Combinations using differences in the three basics- color, texture, and size.

Color
Don't throw the color wheel away (if you are color blind- then seek help). The color wheel can be tremendous help, even artist rely on it from time to time. Some of the terms that I use may not be technically correct but hopefully you will get the jest of my points.

Think "intensity"- from deep rich color to light faint color within the same group. For example, the deep purple of the viola mixed with light blue grape hyacinths. Repeat this with combinations of reds, yellows, and blues.

Let Mother Nature teach you a thing or two about colors. Take a close look at the pansy for example. How many different colors do you see? How well do the different colors compliment each other? Also notice how there may be more of a particular color than another. Try to incorporate some of these color schemes into your beds or garden as a whole.

Texture

Texture means different things to different people. To me, texture runs the gambitt from types of foliage (broad leaf, blades, etc.) to the mere shape of a tree or plant. It can be a stark appearance to a light fluffy feel.

It comes down to what type of emotion or "feel" are you trying to create. Formal vs casual, warm vs cool, cherry, restful, and the list could go on forever. Whatever "feel" or use you are attempting to create, texture is of utmost importance!

Size

Yes, size does matter. There are an infinite number of variables when it comes to size-area, height, and width. The area can pertain to the garden as a whole, a flower bed, or that corner of the yard that has been neglected. It could mean the surrounding structures or existing trees. Which ever the case, size should be considered.

In my case for example, trying to develop a cohesive design or theme for a large area (over four acres) has been quite a challenge. As for my estimation, just putting in a few flower beds here and there would end up looking like a patch work quilt. Also, a flower bed viewed from a distance appears much smaller and the detail is lost even though up close it looks perfect.

Another case in point would be that of outdoor garden rooms. Garden rooms serve the purpose of privacy, respite, and intimacy. Using large plants (a tree being the exception) would create a feeling of being crowded or overwhelmed. Smaller plants would be much more appropriate. Any furniture being used must balance with the size of the area as well.

I could go on and on, but an entire book is most probable already written about color, texture, and sizes. Maybe I should follow up with more on each of these subjects. What do you think? How about letting us hear from you about it?

Til next time,

Poppy


P.S. Here is a good color mix: Viola
and bulbs