Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Green in the Garden (last of the series)


It seems almost silly to talk about green in the garden. OF COURSE there's green in the garden - most leaves, stems and evergreen needles are green.

But if you look more closely, you'll notice that the green of spring is fresh and lime-coloured. Summer green is mature, deep and lush. Many green leaves turn a completely different colour altogether in fall.

Green makes shady places look cool and fresh. I'm lovin' all the different names too: pea, olive, fern, bean, lime, kiwi, mint and ivy.


Brunnera has small blue flowers in spring but the rest of the summer its variegated leaves are a stand-alone focal point.


Euonymus, Love-in-a-Mist and variegated Hosta show different shades of green as well as different textures.


Hostas and painted ferns


Lots of different shades here beside a calm, reflecting pool.


Silver-y blue/green of the nest spruce sets off the greens of hostas, ferns and shrubs


Green leaves spill over a patterned indigo wrought-iron fence


Such cool variegation!


I have always loved striped Miscanthus grass and have it many spots throughout the garden


Huge swaths of pachysandra surround a dogwood bush.


Look at the texture-mania happening here!


One of my autumn favourites: multi-coloured layered kale beside a big rock, surrounded by periwinkle, lamium and miscanthus.

Please check out my food blog - latest post is Very Crispy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.

Monday, March 10, 2014

Purple in the Garden


Columbine (Aquilegia)

Purple in the garden! So formal and dignified, so royal and honourable. 

So many shades to choose from: mauve, lavender, violet, plum and aubergine.

Purple adds depth to light colours and stands out brilliantly if massed. Playful when it's a light tint, powerful when it's deep.


Big pom-pom heads of early spring Allium are a pinky-purple.


Aren't these pinky-mauve rhodos exquisite? Wish they were mine… (taken while on garden tour in Niagara-on-the-Lake)



Incredible picotee Iris - so many shades and colours within a single petal.


Siberian Iris can only be described as blue-ish purple. So dainty on tall skinny stems.



There are so many varieties of lilacs but the shrubs I have are a pinky-purple, very pale in colour. And ohhhhh so very fragrant!


Some gardeners cut hosta flowers off before they bloom but I adore them. I am careful to cut them off when they have expired, though.


Deep purple bellflowers hang heavily on their stems


Many clematis blooms come in deep purple.


Lisianthus comes in many colours, including purple.


Finish the year with lovely autumn crocus!

Please visit my food blog - latest posts are recipes for Spinach and Lemon Risotto with Shrimp as well as Swedish Meatballs with Dill.