Amazing Color in a Longwood Garden - lavender, purple, and more

Those of us who love color (me! me!) can’t resist the urge to include all the hues on the color wheel in their garden.

 

wow - look at that picnic table! at Stone Meadow Kennel...love it.

 

Color certainly adds a dramatic punch to a garden

but it can also result in a visual cacophony. 

 

 

courtesy : Timber Press

 

Longwood Gardens, in Kennett Square, Pa addressed this dilemma in their 600 foot long ‘Flower Garden Walk’. 

 

Along this broad brick walk is a mix of annual and perennial flowers, spring bulbs, woody shrubs and ornamental grasses showcasing one individual color followed by another. 

 

As you stroll, you experience the full impact of each color of the rainbow, one at a time. 

 

At the start is a grand sweep of lavender, purple and blue

courtesy: historicfloralgardens.blogspot 

 

which melds into soft pinks and reds then changes to oranges and warm yellows,

 

 

Ultimately ending in white.

 

Some of the plants in this garden :

• butterfly-bush 
• Golden oriental arborvitae,
•  panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Unique'),
• purple smoke-bush (Cotinus coggygria 'Velvet Cloak'),

plus thousands of ever-changing bulbs, annuals, biennials and perennials from April through October.

This fun approach can be used in any garden –

a long curving flower bed can begin with white wax begonias extending through pink ones and ending with red begonias.

For a great 'color in your garden' book look at this one and be sure ot check out another great review by Allen Becker- garden Guru on this page: