Carefully Chosen Colors Bring a Garden Together

Graphic design skills helped this gardener create a magical space

My name is Carol Verhake . I ’m the current president of the Hardy Plant Society Mid - Atlantic Group and a landscape designer in Berwyn , Pennsylvania , in the Philadelphia suburb . My heat for gardening started about 18 years ago when I bought my home and was forced to deal with overgrown shrubs , pachysandra galore , and a timberland that had been used as a dumping ground .

I was a graphic design major in college but never work in the field . rather , I go after a 34 - class career in healthcare IT . Now in my 2d calling as a designer , I ’m leverage my breeding in art and plan . I noticed when I was taking the attached photos of my garden that the color wheel and the conception of complemental colors must have made a strong impression . intelligibly , I like purple and yellow ! In my thought , it makes for a spectacular compounding .

Ornamental onion ‘ Millenium ’ ( Allium‘Millenium ’ , Zones 4–9 ) has royal blossom that are complement by the xanthous foliage and heyday around it . learn our industrial plant usher to ornamental onion plant here .

In another part of the garden , the same color strategy is at oeuvre . Here the purple come from gnome Chinese astilbe ( Astilbechinensisvar.pumila , Zones 4–8 ) , phlox ‘ Wanda ’ ( Phlox paniculata‘Wanda ’ , Zones 4–8 ) , and moreAllium‘Millenium ’ , with yellow notes amount from the leaves of hostas .

whizz out a little , and you see that the same colour combination is repeated across the garden , ensuring that the figure run whether you are looking close at a particular planting or take the extensive view of the whole distance .

We usually do n’t call up of hostas for their flower , but this one accommodate the color scheme perfectly ! Lavender blooms and yellow variegated foliage .

Humans are n’t the only ones who enjoy Carol ’s design . Phlox is a gravid aboriginal perennial and is beloved by many pollinators , include this little hummingbird moth ( Hemaris thysbe ) .

And ultimately , the most important feature of any garden : a position to sit and enjoy all the beauty .

Have photograph to share ? We ’d love to see your garden , a particular aggregation of plants you make love , or a marvelous garden you had the chance to visit !

To subject , send 5 - 10 photos to[email protected]along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the picture . We ’d love to get wind where you are settle , how long you ’ve been garden , success you are majestic of , failures you see from , hope for the future , preferent plant , or funny stories from your garden .

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