I planted a new perennial bed this spring and now I'm unsure about the color arrangement. To start off, what are your favorite color combinations and tips for putting together a nice color palette with a nice flow? In this bed, I'm not really looking for a monochromatic scheme, but instead, a pretty colorful one.
I guess I'm having the most trouble combining warm and cool colors in the same bed, so if you have pictures combining these I would love to see them. Actually, I would love to see any pictures!
The plants and colors I have include the following, if you have any suggestions of what to put with what and what not to put with what, please share. =) Thanks!
red- sandcherry, wiegela, red switch grass, and hydrangea all have deep red/burgundy foliage
orange- gaillardia goblin, kniphofia
gold- rudbeckia, gloriosa daisy, achillea, coreopsis, golden fleece solidago
white- white swan echinacea, shasta daisies, david phlox, boltonia snowbank
pink- light pink asters and veronica, hot pink armeria and azalea
purple- lavender asters, nepeta, and scabiosa, deep purple liatris and viola
blue- asters, campanula
.
What are your favorite Color Palettes/Color Combos?
Hi wickedelph,
It would be great if you posted a few photos of your garden so we can see how the colors are placed. It is hard to tell from just a list but in general I would have divided your colors into 2 different beds:1 red/burgundy, orange,gold with blue and purple
2 pink, purple, blue and white (and maybe add a pale lemon yellow so it doesn't become cloyingly sweet, with repeating silver foliage)and the red burgundy
The burgundy looks wonderful with yellow and purple and/or blue.
There are a few color echo threads on the perennial forum you might want to look into.
I think tones/ values have a lot to do with it, too - pastels with pastels as opposed to brighter, 'truer' colors .... for example, I wouldn't mix pink with orange (okay, I have, but that was my 70's "Laugh-In" bed, and it was all the same kind of flower).
Oh boy, that was really helpful, wasn't it?
Plantings 1 yr old around an old walnut tree that is slowly dying from a fungal disease.
same bed, slightly different angle
First two pics were of part of the backyard, here's the front in May, the best month for flowers
Here's another angle to the frontyard. As you can see we're on a hill not only front to back, but also side to side! The huge spill of plants across the garage driveway completely hides a concrete block retaining wall my husband spent all summer putting in, back in 2002.
Here's another of our backyard beds, a smaller one that combines hot and cool colors
Here's a pretty combination: anagallis monelli with a raspberry pink pelargonium
Blue echium and orange nasturtium
An interesting foliage combination where the hot orange and red nasturtiums nicely punctuate the overall cool look
How's this for a color combo? Purple, blue-green, dark green, yellow, salmon, and chartreuse!
Here's an example of the "matching pastels" someone mentioned above: pale blue and white iris with their silvery green foliage, set against the dark green and tan leaves of dwarf Indian hawthorne with their pink flower sprays.
Lavender stoechas and orange poppies (our state flower). There's a few pale yellow blooms of mimulus in the LH corner.
Hi, wickedelph. Although it seems contrary to what I would think would look "right", I've been inspired by the famous gardens of Gertrude Jeckyll to follow her idea of using cool colors in the center bulk of the garden, and gradually bleed into warmer tones toward the ends. This seems like it will work well for me because there is some shade and several spruces in this part of the garden, and cool, pastel colors show up nicely in these areas. In one area heavily planted in pinks and whites I've worked in some crimson, pinkish red and wine for warmth. In another area soft peach and buff pinks taper off into salmons, corals, and finally oranges, with blues and whites throughout for continuity and balance.
Seems like no matter how much planning goes into it, I always have plenty of moving things around to do, but that's part of the fun of it. Looking forward to hearing of your progress!
Pretty combinations jkom.
Thanks everyone! I definitely have a lot to think and dream about until the spring when I try moving things around. Keep the pictures coming if you have them!
jkom, your pictures are great! They are definitely very helpful and inspirational.
Gemini_sage, I really like that idea. I'll have to look into reading up on Gertrude Jeckyll. I'm almost positive I have a book about her somewhere around here.
I'll try posting some pictures this weekend.
Thanks again! =)
Oh, I spaced out and forgot to say to you jkom, your gardens are GLORIOUS! Love your use of color and form.
Jkom51, My FAVORITE combination is your : September 8, 2007, 11:18 AM
Post #3951626 of bright purple and Califormia orange poppy. WOW, THAT one is fabulous! Your pictures are incredible, so full and rich. All those draping flowers are wonderful.
Orange is about my least favorite color except as a small amount as an accent color in the garden, then I LOVE it! go figure!! LOL