Serenity in the Garden

Jewel tones are rich colors that resemble gemstones including emerald green, amethyst purple, ruby red, topaz yellow, sapphire blue, tourmaline green, and turquoise blue. A jewel tone is bold (no pastels here) and lends an air of distinction to a space. They bring a scintillating 'Pop' to a garden.  Complimentary jewel tones like amethyst purple and topaz yellow are especially effective. Jewel tones look great indoors as well...I love this painting and chairs below... But too much saturation can be overwhelming...You must temper your exuberance a little.... Richness can lead to burn out...but maybe not. Fire Spinner Ice Plant You can get away with lots of jewel tones when you use plants... Spello, Italy Flowers also can be combined to become a  Jewel Tone Medley ... Angelonia and Lime Rickey Heuchera - Johnsen Landscapes & Pools Coleus works great to create a jewel tone planter You can...

Electric Blue Gecko Elephant Ears Want to create a bold statement in your garden this summer? Elephant ears (Colocasia esculenta) sport large, colorful leaves and  give your garden an instant tropical effect. They  like sun, moist soil and warm weather (zones  8-11 ) .  Great in pots - source: Logees The Gecko series from breeder Brian Williams of the mail order nursery,  Brian’s Botanicals  in Louisville, KY is vigorous and change color like a true gecko.  'Electric Blue Gecko'  grows 3 ft x 3 ft and has foliage that can look deep purple, black or even metallic-blue in different light.  It has maroon undersides.  It looks great against coleus and colorful annual flowers!  NYBG - Electric Blue Gecko with coleus and more  Deep blue stems hold the foliage high which makes it look great in a container or in  mass plantings and in the front or middle of the border. It likes  moi...

Queen of the Night tulips - Dragonfly Farms Black and White, the oh-so-chic color combination that we see adorning all the hippest living rooms in \urban settings is just as alluring in a garden. and perhaps even more so because the colors are not from Benjie Moore but from Mama Nature.... (black walls anyone? This is from apartmenttherapy.com, a great website!) Black and white tulip combinations create a luscious contrast especially if they are surrounded with green, green and more green... I planted Queen of the Night black tulips with a white tulip to create a late tulip show that is also a wonderful cut flower combo. Another black tulip you must consider is the heavily frilled and feathery-edged Black Parrot tulip which is especially beautiful -  it is dark purple outside and almost black on the inside. (Protect these from wind) Van Bourgondien Bulbs  mixed this tulip with others to create their Mystery Passion...

'Sedona' Coleus  What plant likes sun or shade - is Fast Growing - Easy to Grow - Adds a visual POP to planters and beds? the answer  :  Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides ) Coleus is a versatile foliage plant that is always at your service, no special requirements other than water and maybe a little pinching as the season progresses... and it thrives in part shade! What's not to love? It is an exuberant houseplant,  a summertime dazzler  and a fabuloso filler plant suitable for any and all applications... It looks especially wonderful in pots. Place several together like this: Inky Fingers Coleus, Chartreuse Sweet Potato Vine and others or in a low, wide mouth planter with ferns: Or you can plant it in shady plant bed alongside the perennial Ladies Mantle ( alchemilla mollis): Alabama Sunset Coleus with Ladies Mantle Or you plant it beneath larger plants - as I did below with a weeping blue at...

'Pineapple Splash' Coleus - photo by Jan Johnsen I have had a love affair with  coleus  ever since I grew it in plastic pots on a windowsill in a small New York city apartment as a teenager. Back then there were maybe 6 varieties of coleus available and I got mine as cuttings from adult friends. They were my introduction to plants ( followed by the hanging 'spider plant' - remember those denizens of all 'homey' restaurants in the 1970s?....) Kong Coleus - photo by Jan Johnsen Well, I have grown up and so has coleus... The colorful foliage of coleus is making a comeback as breeders introduce new varieties to supplement the old faves.  The diversity of foliage color, leaf shape, and growth habit  - and the fact that coleus tolerates both full sun and part shade  - make them a great addition to any garden. Coleus are great both in beds and containers...There are so many varieties to choose from - where to start? I...

Electric Blue Gecko Elephant Ears Want to create a bold statement in your garden this summer? Elephant ears (Colocasia esculenta) sport large, colorful leaves and  give your garden an instant tropical effect. They  like sun, moist soil and warm weather (zones  8-11 ) .  Great in pots - source: Logees The Gecko series from breeder Brian Williams of the mail order nursery,  Brian’s Botanicals  in Louisville, KY is vigorous and change color like a true gecko. 'Electric Blue Gecko' grows 3 ft x 3 ft and has foliage that can look deep purple, black or even metallic-blue in different light.  It has maroon undersides.  It looks great against coleus and colorful annual flowers!  NYBG - Electric Blue Gecko with coleus and more  Deep blue stems hold the foliage high which makes it look great in a container or in  mass plantings and in the front or middle of the border. It likes  moist but well drai...

'Pineapple Splash' and 'Inky Fingers' Coleus together - photo by Jan Johnsen I have had a love affair with coleus ever since I grew it in plastic pots on a windowsill in a small New York city apartment as a teenager. Back then there were maybe 3 varieties of coleus available and I got mine as cuttings from adult friends. They were my introduction to plants ( followed by the infamous hanging  'spider plant' - remember those? denizen of all 'homey' restaurants in the 1970s....) Kong Coleus - photo by Jan Johnsen Well, I have grown up and so has coleus.....The colorful foliage of Coleus is making a comeback as breeders introduce new varieities to supplement the old faves.  The diversity of foliage color, leaf shape, and growth habit  - and the fact that coleus tolerates both full sun and part shade  - make them a valuable addition to any garden. Coleus are great both in beds and containers...There are so many varieties to choose from - where to star...