“Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows … is what I feel when we’re together.” That’s how singer Lesley Gore felt in the 1960s, but lately we have not been experiencing much sunshine, maybe just a few rainbows. And it is happening because in North County we are amid May Gray and June Gloom.
So, lately, I have been seeking gardens that feature brilliant colors, textures and forms.
HOT COLORS POP IN YOUR YARD
Hot colors are characterized as those in the red, orange and yellow range on the color wheel. If you have time to search for a picture of an artist’s color wheel, you will find that orange and purple are on the opposite sides of the wheel.
While cruising through a garden shop you might find the bright orange and yellow Lilium lancifolium, the variety gardeners think of as the tiger lily. The bulbs are so hardy that they are sometimes used in public parks and roadways. Asiatic lilies come from crosses made with other lily divisions and often are described as down-facing, up-facing or out-facing and come in a variety of colors.
Ask your garden shop professional to point you in the direction of the bulb collection, and you will be pleasantly surprised at the wide selection. These are some of the easiest flowers to grow because they reappear year after year and require little care, with the exception of at least a half-day of sun. If you are growing a yellow/orange variety, they pair well with deep blue and purple flowers and bulbs.
COOL PURPLE AND BLUE
I owned a very small greenhouse in Upstate New York, and when selling my plants at the farmers market, I found the most sought-after colors were blue and purple. Although a bit challenging to grow, my summer favorite blue/purple flower is delphinium.
When shopping for delphinium, try to choose the plant with the most blue or purple flowers, since the white variety does not give the contrast to the orange tiger lily. Both varieties, magic fountain and Pacific giant, will produce prolifically for at least a month. Cut back and fertilize at the end of the season, and there is a good chance they will return next year.
Purple agapanthus is often paired with orange tiger lilies because the two colors complement each other. Agapanthus is one of the largest summer bulbs and gives a show of purple fireworks each day. Plant in a large pot and feed with N-P-K fertilizer to keep the plant producing year after year.
LEARN FROM THE MASTERS
Claude Monet, one of the world’s most famous impressionistic painter and gardener, often used complementary colors in his garden and his home. According to Denise Landis (thecookscook.com), “The blue and yellow colors of his dining area are arresting – they make you stop and look and marvel. Who puts such vibrant complementary colors in a dining room?”
Just as we can admire the art theory of famous artists, so too can we plan our gardens to be arresting as well. If you find garden design as fascinating as I do, I highly recommend Elizabeth Murray’s book, “Monet’s Passion,” in which she recounts her experiences as a gardener at the famous French painter’s Giverny estate and explains his theory of garden design. The color illustrations give any gardener an opportunity to execute his garden plans on a smaller scale.
As a gardener and painter, I am always learning from the professionals. Browse your local library’s garden section to plan your next summer garden.
Send us your ideas about your favorite local gardens, and we might just come for a visit!
Jano Nightingale is a Master Gardener and horticulturist who teaches vegetable gardening at the Carlsbad Senior Center community garden. Contact her at [email protected] for upcoming classes or gardening questions.
