A pure blue as dark as that would recede visually, but the touch of red that makes it a violet gives it a visual ‘punch’ and brings it towards the foreground.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I know of no flower or leaf that is truly black. I mean black cat black.
Photos are rigged to appear more black than they are. Obviously "black" in the name and in the pic has sales value.
I have some Othiopogon "nigrescens" but that is purple with green at the base. I would like a big patch, but my 3 purchases are spreading rather slowly.
I don't have black in my pallet when painting. If I want to mix a black I mix a blue and a red to get the deepest purple possible, and then add a touch of yellow. My blacks are coloured blacks, that can move forward or back to taste.
The best black in my garden is the shade I get on a bright sunny day. Perhaps about 50% of my colour, if colour it is, is this deep shade. It fills the negative spaces between plants and under each glossy camellia or holly leaf.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
It might help you to know that Thompson & Morgan are a Suffolk firm. I grew up in Suffolk … as children ‘blackjacks’ was what we Suffolk children called the small wild damsons that we gathered from the hedgerows for our mothers to make jam and ‘damson cheese’. They were a dark violet-blue beneath their soft ‘blue-white’ bloom.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
We were visiting Fairweathers GC (in Beaulieu, New Forest) the weekend before Chelsea and they had Black Jack for sale - so sisters and I invested in one each. Fairweathers were part of the team that introduced it. Mine has a flower coming so I’ll let you know …..
Its evergreen, so will be coming into the greenhouse each winter here.
interesting thread - I’ve always fed from March (when I first start watering to wake them from their winter slumber) but then stopped in summer. Didn’t realise they formed their flower buds the previous year ……will adjust things this year and see how it goes. Thanks for the tips folks.
@chicky If you are able to post a photo I would love to see it. I will look out for it at the GC's but won't be growing it if it is evergreen. I did take a look on line but couldn't find out if it was decidous or evergreen for sure, so thankyou. In a pot I think it will be a plant that stands proudly on it's own.
I grow A Navy Blue in a south west corner along the edge of a path. It has strong stems and doesn't lean like the very tall forms. At the back is Sanguisorba Cangshan Cranberry growing through a very rusty obelisk. There is also a pale peach Achillea that fades to cream. Plus a large patch of Ophiopogon which I have grown for many years. This continues along the path and picks up the darker tones of the Agapanthus.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
It might help you to know that Thompson & Morgan are a Suffolk firm.
Literally? You mean I expect black to mean black? And why not?
The Impressionist banned black and gained more joyful paintings. When I say "impressionists", I exclude Manet "The father of impressionism", who would have agreed with me. He liked a lot of black. But in a garden, black is difficult.
T&M I have known for a long time, they once had the most comprensive seed catalogue, but they are not what they were. Wherever possible. I favour local. But T&M are no longer a "local" operation.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
I don't paint, not interested in photography, I grew up in a family of photographers , maybe I listened in as a child and didn't realise! Any knowledge I have gained regarding colour is due to my interest in gardening I think.
I have seen Ophiopogon used in large groups with different tones of dark red heucheras. Placed around a circular pool to make the most of the reflection the water appeared black. It was viewed from above where the leaves are seen at their darkest. Stunning.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Posts
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Photos are rigged to appear more black than they are. Obviously "black" in the name and in the pic has sales value.
I have some Othiopogon "nigrescens" but that is purple with green at the base. I would like a big patch, but my 3 purchases are spreading rather slowly.
I don't have black in my pallet when painting. If I want to mix a black I mix a blue and a red to get the deepest purple possible, and then add a touch of yellow. My blacks are coloured blacks, that can move forward or back to taste.
The best black in my garden is the shade I get on a bright sunny day. Perhaps about 50% of my colour, if colour it is, is this deep shade. It fills the negative spaces between plants and under each glossy camellia or holly leaf.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Its evergreen, so will be coming into the greenhouse each winter here.
interesting thread - I’ve always fed from March (when I first start watering to wake them from their winter slumber) but then stopped in summer. Didn’t realise they formed their flower buds the previous year ……will adjust things this year and see how it goes. Thanks for the tips folks.
I grow A Navy Blue in a south west corner along the edge of a path. It has strong stems and doesn't lean like the very tall forms. At the back is Sanguisorba Cangshan Cranberry growing through a very rusty obelisk. There is also a pale peach Achillea that fades to cream. Plus a large patch of Ophiopogon which I have grown for many years. This continues along the path and picks up the darker tones of the Agapanthus.
The Impressionist banned black and gained more joyful paintings. When I say "impressionists", I exclude Manet "The father of impressionism", who would have agreed with me. He liked a lot of black. But in a garden, black is difficult.
T&M I have known for a long time, they once had the most comprensive seed catalogue, but they are not what they were. Wherever possible. I favour local. But T&M are no longer a "local" operation.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
From now on I am dropping evergreen and being more careful with deciduous.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Any knowledge I have gained regarding colour is due to my interest in gardening I think.
I have seen Ophiopogon used in large groups with different tones of dark red heucheras. Placed around a circular pool to make the most of the reflection the water appeared black. It was viewed from above where the leaves are seen at their darkest. Stunning.