What is the difference between some pretty flowers and a spectacular garden? It is finding plants that bloom at the same time and compliment each other in color, while contrasting with each other in shape, size and habit. If you can do that three or four times throughout the growing season, your garden will be a real source of pleasure and anticipation. For instance in the picture below there are three complimentary colors: green, lemon yellow and violet. What really makes the garden vignette jump are the variety of contrasting flower shapes and sizes. The tall delicate airy spikes of the Sage (Salvia nemorosa May Night’), weave through the big blowsy Bearded Iris (Iris Germanica), and the outward flaring trumpets of the Daylily (Hemerocallis flava). They are framed and made all the more delicate by the dense low mat formed by tightly packed yet simple open flowers of Mountain Pinks ( Dianthus Mountain Mist). This late May to early June display is the second in a series of four successive changing shows this garden reveals.
In March and April a blue, white and dusty pink display is the show that starts the year off in this garden. Delicate clusters of the little white bells of Snowdrops (Galanthus elwesii) rise above a carpet of deep blue stars of Spring Beauty (Scilla siberica). As a backdrop is a frame of the large handsome glossy leaves and rose purple elegant flowers of Lentin Rose (Helleborus orientalis). It is a welcoming sight when you are still bundled up in your winter coat!
Once the long days of summer arrive, some of the hot and zesty reds and oranges take over. Echinacea Sundown with its wide russet-orange petals is bright and substantial. It contrasts sublimely with the dainty purple and coral flower spikes of Hyssop (Agastache Firebird). The flat topped and structural Yarrow ( Achillea Terra Cotta) starts off peach colored and matures into shades of terra cotta. It gives the garden a feeling of substance, fitting right into a Southwestern feel. And the festive red globes of fireworks found in Bee Balm (Mondarda Jacob Cline) tie it all together.
As the summer days wane and autumns’ chill is in the air a final display is a bit softer and the more muted colors blend with the colors of the season. Now you see the blue of the tall spiky Monkshood (Aconitum ) in contrast to the airy Chocolate Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium rugosum “Chocolate”) with its burgundy foliage and delicate white flowers. Finally in the Fall the garden has a wave of Stonecrop (Sedum Purple Emperor) with its dark pink flowers and purple foliage. It adds substance to the planting and highlights all the other plants.
Try your hand at the succession dance and you will find you have made some real garden music!