| Colors are one of the most effective design | | | | Green isn't in itself a true color. It's just |
| ingredients in creating a garden. And plants | | | | the thread that holds the real colored |
| are overall the easiest and most influential | | | | elements in place. |
| factor where color and variation can be | | | | |
| established and managed. | | | | Now if we pictured green as just being a |
| | | | neutral element, I probably could go along |
| However, for countless gardeners and home | | | | with this. However, as a professional, I |
| landscapers in their search for perfect color | | | | observe it in a much different way. There are |
| combinations, there is another segment to | | | | countless shades of green. Each can hold many |
| plants that is often neglected as a design | | | | varying textures that can create such |
| element. And that would be in the many | | | | exquisite contrasts to design with. |
| marvelous and contrasted textures of plants. | | | | |
| Especially in green plants. | | | | Some of the most colorful and lush landscape |
| | | | designs I've ever observed have just simply |
| Green plants not only assist as a color | | | | displayed this single color in many |
| principle like any other color, but can also | | | | variations. Light greens, dark greens, yellow |
| be used as a neutral transitional color that | | | | greens, etc. And I haven't even made mention |
| blends other elements and colors together. Or | | | | of texture here. Even the same shade of green |
| basically, as a filler or where one space of | | | | in different textures often creates a |
| the garden changes to the next. Natural | | | | fascinating contrast for designing purposes. |
| transition is so important in creating a | | | | |
| garden design. | | | | Try and picture the abundance and beauty of a |
| | | | dark jungle. Their beauty and contrast are |
| I was reminded just recently as I was talking | | | | commonly made up by the many different |
| with a customer of how many people really | | | | variations of shade and texture and not vivid |
| don't think of green plants as being a design | | | | colors. Shady landscapes that compare to a |
| ingredient in designing gardens. | | | | deep forest or jungle are rather beautiful |
| | | | all by themselves. |
| As we went over her design plan I pointed out | | | | |
| that we had four colors in her design project | | | | Keep this in mind when making plans for your |
| and that we needed to repeat them throughout | | | | next garden. Just as one illustration, a |
| the design to form a little balance. She then | | | | combining of Hostas, Ferns, and Showy Grasses |
| stated that we only had three colors in her | | | | can bring about a very remarkable and eye |
| design. | | | | catching display simply using the color |
| | | | green. |
| I knew exactly what she was trying to say by | | | | |
| that because it's what most people think. | | | | So maybe green really is a color. |