I’m partial to green and dark purple to nearly black. These are my favorite colors in the garden, but I’m not bound by them. I let my garden take the lead when it comes to color. In fact, my garden has many colors, like a patchwork quilt.

Garden of Many Colors

Yes, I realize that green in the garden seems like a given. Isn’t most foliage color green after all? It is, but there are also many variations of green as well as variegated types to choose from. Different textures of green, like wispy fronds of fern to the sword-like leaves of iris, can help break of the monotony too. You can take it up a notch by weaving in other foliage colors that include hints of gray, blue, bronze and, one my favorites, purple.

Green color can also come from flowers. They add something different and I always try to include green blooms somewhere in my garden beds. Dark purple to black in the garden can provide drama. They’re my favorites. Of course, it helps to have a lighter backdrop for these plants to stand out better, which is another reason I enjoy planting them in a sea of green.

I don’t limit the garden beds to just these colors though. I enjoy “sowing” my quilt with complementary colors. Varying hues of orange and yellow give my beds that extra pop amongst the purplish-black. Different shades of pink are also included. And there’s often other colorful plant additions that find their way into the garden serendipitously, usually from self-seeding plants or the birds. Many of the colorful plants in my garden have a story to tell. Similar to those comfy quilts made by grandma, memories play a big role in the garden. So, unless it was planted by the birds or just an unexpected volunteer, everything has its place, even when it appears out of sorts. 

I try my best to connect the various beds as you would each quilt block. That said, I’m not too picky about it. All plant colors are welcome in my garden and each adds its own unique appeal. I’m all for diversity, and to me, that’s what the garden should reflect.