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By Kenneth Hoffman
Discover color in foliage. I don't know why people think of flowers when a garden is mentioned. Blooming plants make a noticeableaccent only when in bloom and in sufficient numbers to be seen from a distance. On the other hand, foliage is present in large quantities all summer long, presenting their leafy faces to the sun and our own admiring eyes.
Many plants qualify as colorful additions to our garden. One of
my favorites is the large leaf hosta in dusty blue shades. One
clump of this easily found plant covers a square yard of area,
nodding with the breezes and even sending up racemes of lilac
blooms in June. Large leafed coleus toned in white and mint or
Wine and green can be treated as a potted plant for good effect
as accent pieces or sprinkled among the border plants for all summer color.
Evergreens that shine with sunny yellows and chartreuse are
the golden arbor vitae and variegated hollies. Reds are
represented by Japanese maples, especially the finely divided
miniatures. Other reds are represented by fire thorn and barberry.
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When visiting your local nursery in the spring, choose plants with extra light or dark foliage for accenting the ubiquitous
leaf green. Flowering weeping varieties of some trees sport raecemesof a golden color like the golden chain tree. Twisted willow leaves are of a jade green color. Large Norwegian maples are to be avoided because they absorb too much light in the garden and grow too large for most spaces.
With the overall effect of colorful leaves painting a picture in your garden, you are then free to place the finishing touches with your favorite flowers. You will never again have to wait for a plant to bloom or put up with a variety whose blooming season is over. Just think of the painting it could make!
Retired portrait photographer. Favorite flower - day lily.
See Also...
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How To Save Your Fruit Tree Blossoms From A Spring Freeze
A single Springtime Freeze can wipe out all hopes of a bountiful fruit harvest by killing the blossoms that are so often premature. If you have just a few trees to protect, you may find this to be an effective method to assure your tender Spring blossoms will mature to ripe fruit.
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