Re the recent exchanges in this forum thread about colour likes/dislikes.As they say, "de gustibus et coloribus non est disputandum", “Of tastes and colours there is nothing to be disputed.” People may (strongly) dislike certain colours for reasons best know to them or even without any particular reason.
As far as ornamental garden design is concerned, the inclusion or exclusion of certain colours is a matter of individual taste again, but also of adhering (or not adhering) to a certain "colour scheme".
When I say that orange, bright red and---to a lesser extent---yellow are "banned" from my garden, it does not mean that I dislike those colours. They are excluded because they do not fit my overall colour scheme, which consists of white, pink and blue.
As rightly pointed out by Fairygirl, climate (i.e. amount of sunlight) also has to be taken into consideration.
The easiest colour scheme is "multi-coloured", anything goes, the more different colours, the better. But if you start a scheme with a small number of colours, things become more subtle and ... complicated. In the extreme, Sissinghurst White Garden seems to solve the colour problem with only ONE colour, but in fact it makes it more difficult as there are so many shades of white that need careful design if they are to match.
Seeing your salvia with the alchemilla, PJ, has set me off on that track. I have the very spot for my blue salvia. Thanks for reminding me of that thread.
Now where's my "how to take a cutting" book?
Ha we crossed over Verd. I'm stealing your silver/grey thing as well. It's a perfect foil for so many plants. I may even be so bold as to try grasses.
All this colour thing is too complicated for me! I plant where I think a plant would like to go, shade or sun, heavy or lighter soil, dry or damper patch. They all flower at different times of the year too. I find that I have more pinks and blues in spring and early summer, then more reds and yellows in later summer then autumn with Michaelmas daisies and it's pink and purple.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
I think gardening can be as complicated or simple as you want it to be. My garden is colour themed in theory, in that I think about how colours will complement each other, or not, when I plant something new - but since I let a lot of plants seed around (because I reckon they're better than I am at deciding where they'd like to grow), this is kind of "loose" in places.
But I'm perfectly happy to admire a flower-filled meadow, or woodland floor, where all sorts of colours live happily together. Nature does it better, I think... unless you're trying to paint a picture with your garden, like the ones in the flower shows.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
I think what we're all saying is - no matter what we all like individually, we can still admire a different look in someone else's garden. Well, that's what I'm saying anyway!
I don't like a cottage garden for myself, ( I don't have time to care for them) but it doesn't mean I can't admire them - BL's garden is stunning. Big blousy plants get annihilated in the weather here too, so it's learning what suits your own conditions as much as anything.
My tastes have definitely changed though. I like structure and geometry more and more as I get older.
Or maybe I'm just fickle....
The 'wall' of buddleia is starting to open along the boundary. The birds love sheltering in it
The section on the right is what I'm working on just now, near the 'stension. More planting to go along there once the side gate/fence etc is finished
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
My cuttings are what one might call hit and miss. I either have 100% success or 100% failure and I don't know what causes either.
Re the recent exchanges in this forum thread about colour likes/dislikes.As they say, "de gustibus et coloribus non est disputandum", “Of tastes and colours there is nothing to be disputed.” People may (strongly) dislike certain colours for reasons best know to them or even without any particular reason.
As far as ornamental garden design is concerned, the inclusion or exclusion of certain colours is a matter of individual taste again, but also of adhering (or not adhering) to a certain "colour scheme".
When I say that orange, bright red and---to a lesser extent---yellow are "banned" from my garden, it does not mean that I dislike those colours. They are excluded because they do not fit my overall colour scheme, which consists of white, pink and blue.
As rightly pointed out by Fairygirl, climate (i.e. amount of sunlight) also has to be taken into consideration.
The easiest colour scheme is "multi-coloured", anything goes, the more different colours, the better. But if you start a scheme with a small number of colours, things become more subtle and ... complicated. In the extreme, Sissinghurst White Garden seems to solve the colour problem with only ONE colour, but in fact it makes it more difficult as there are so many shades of white that need careful design if they are to match.
See this discussion: http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/garden-design/colour-scheme/598517.html
Seeing your salvia with the alchemilla, PJ, has set me off on that track. I have the very spot for my blue salvia. Thanks for reminding me of that thread.
Now where's my "how to take a cutting" book?
Ha we crossed over Verd. I'm stealing your silver/grey thing as well. It's a perfect foil for so many plants. I may even be so bold as to try grasses.
Last edited: 26 July 2016 15:42:28
Have you seen Liri's pics of Tatton? The one with the grasses and blue things below the sideways wattle one is just gorge!
All this colour thing is too complicated for me! I plant where I think a plant would like to go, shade or sun, heavy or lighter soil, dry or damper patch. They all flower at different times of the year too. I find that I have more pinks and blues in spring and early summer, then more reds and yellows in later summer then autumn with Michaelmas daisies and it's pink and purple.
I think gardening can be as complicated or simple as you want it to be. My garden is colour themed in theory, in that I think about how colours will complement each other, or not, when I plant something new - but since I let a lot of plants seed around (because I reckon they're better than I am at deciding where they'd like to grow), this is kind of "loose" in places.
But I'm perfectly happy to admire a flower-filled meadow, or woodland floor, where all sorts of colours live happily together. Nature does it better, I think... unless you're trying to paint a picture with your garden, like the ones in the flower shows.
I think what we're all saying is - no matter what we all like individually, we can still admire a different look in someone else's garden. Well, that's what I'm saying anyway!
I don't like a cottage garden for myself, ( I don't have time to care for them) but it doesn't mean I can't admire them - BL's garden is stunning. Big blousy plants get annihilated in the weather here too, so it's learning what suits your own conditions as much as anything.
My tastes have definitely changed though. I like structure and geometry more and more as I get older.
Or maybe I'm just fickle....
The 'wall' of buddleia is starting to open along the boundary. The birds love sheltering in it
The section on the right is what I'm working on just now, near the 'stension. More planting to go along there once the side gate/fence etc is finished
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Have say I don't bother with colour schemes and I also let plants self seed , if in wrong spot , pull them up
Went i do buy plants , unless it is for a pot , do tend to buy in 3's
Saw somebody mention a colour thread , just pulled it up to have a look
That's what I like about gardening everybody and every garden different
Have a good day
j