Going mono,maybe
I was reading Layanee’s post about color combinations and it made me think about how a bit of planning now could make me a lot happier about my own color mixes comes summer. There are certain things I can’t do much about in the perennial beds, but containers are the perfect blank canvas for this sort of thing.
Last year I had red bedder nicotiana and strobilanthes (Persian Shield) in a couple containers: deep red and purple. That looked OK, and I might repeat it.
The other cool combo (temp-wise) I like is white and purple, as with these silvery white petunias and the blue ageratum, though they aren’t combined as they should be here.
But it might be interesting to do some monochromatic schemes in the containers. I would use different shades of the same color as they appear in different plants. That’s the great thing about annuals; it doesn’t really matter how common they are: white impatiens massed against green-foliaged shrubs can look great. I’ve even seen celosia (an annual I really don’t care for much) look fantastic at the Botanical Gardens, when planted out like this:
Sometimes it doesn't even matter what the flowers are (again from the Gardens):
I’m straying from the point. Which is. Every summer I buy several flats of annuals from various places and add to that the ones my friend the seed king gives me. But then I stuff them into containers with very little though for color combinations, usually just going for violent clashes. This year I think I’ll try some semi-monos. Shades of orange, anyone? Or shades of red might be better. Or no, shades of yellow. Is there yellow coleus? There must be. OK, close enough:
Last year I had red bedder nicotiana and strobilanthes (Persian Shield) in a couple containers: deep red and purple. That looked OK, and I might repeat it.
The other cool combo (temp-wise) I like is white and purple, as with these silvery white petunias and the blue ageratum, though they aren’t combined as they should be here.
But it might be interesting to do some monochromatic schemes in the containers. I would use different shades of the same color as they appear in different plants. That’s the great thing about annuals; it doesn’t really matter how common they are: white impatiens massed against green-foliaged shrubs can look great. I’ve even seen celosia (an annual I really don’t care for much) look fantastic at the Botanical Gardens, when planted out like this:
Sometimes it doesn't even matter what the flowers are (again from the Gardens):
I’m straying from the point. Which is. Every summer I buy several flats of annuals from various places and add to that the ones my friend the seed king gives me. But then I stuff them into containers with very little though for color combinations, usually just going for violent clashes. This year I think I’ll try some semi-monos. Shades of orange, anyone? Or shades of red might be better. Or no, shades of yellow. Is there yellow coleus? There must be. OK, close enough:
Comments
I like the Nicotiana with the Persian Shield. That was a good combination.
Most of the time I end up with random combinations that are either a brilliant success or a dismal failure.
I am thrilled to be going to Austin and look forward to meeting all. Shall I bring some wine? LOL I am also a wine lover! Maybe champagne!
Never fear, we will have wine in Austin at the Spring Fling. Texas martinis as well. It sounds like Elizabeth's cottage will be the late-night spot to be.
I want to do yellow. And maybe white.