Color Harmonies A Collaboration of Design Ideas from my Trip to England Rebecca Slater

SLIDE 1 This is part of the window box and hanging basket display the Royal Horticultural Society put on at the 1998 Chelsea Flower Show. Note the four colors are all shades of pink, yet anything but monotonous. This combination seems vibrant and soothing at the same time.

SLIDE 2 My favorite rhododendron at Exbury. As with the last photo, the flower is many shades of pink. The amount of darker shades in proportion to medium and lighter shades seems perfect. Sometimes nature makes the most beautiful combinations!

SLIDE 3 While on the subject of nature’s combinations, check out this wildflower combination of Rose Campion and English Bluebell seen at Forde Abbey. Again, a perfect balance of color and texture.

SLIDE 4 Here is the extreme opposite of those carefree wildflowers- A beautiful formal vegetable garden at Hadspen House. Sometimes “red” and “yellow” foliaged plants can look too harsh together, but the vegetables and herbs in this garden strike a perfect color balance.

SLIDE 5 Again we see a beautifully orchestrated design with these Japanese maples at the Garden House. Although the entire effect is quite bold, the maroons, pinks, and yellows are soothing together- like a person who stands out from the crowd in their dress, but individually looks beautifully put together.

SLIDE 6 Speaking of standing out from the crowd… Aren’t these fruits and vegetables awesome? Each represents absolute perfection, even though we all know it doesn’t exist. Anyway, although the colors red, green, white, and orange would not seem harmonious in a planting, they really pull it off here- in an ultra artificial setting.

SLIDE 7 And now for something completely different… A great idea- a continuous color running through a planting to give the illusion of a river or stream. Here blue forget-me-nots (helped by the architecture) “flow” through this three tiered planting at the Garden House.

SLIDE 8 Here is another example of a plant being used to create a “stream-like” effect. What is the first thing you notice when you quickly look at this photo? I doubt it’s the ferns or the hosta. These candleabra primroses are magnificent anyway, and even more so in their spotlight position here at Hillier’s.

SLIDE 9 Ah, another great use for candleabra primroses. They don’t steal the show here, but they supply an integral part of this exciting color combination. They bring the eye back to this side of the shore- otherwise the line would just disappear & the view would be much less enticing.

SLIDE 10 Enticing…. or tacky? You decide. These azaleas at Exbury combine bright pink and red- a color combination no-no. What pulls it off and actually makes it look like they were made to go together? The element of white, which acts as a divider for colors.

SLIDE 11 The purple border at Hadspen house. Clearly, artists are at work here. This could not be more beautiful or pleasing to the eye. I wish I could design like this- it’s absolutely stunning.

SLIDE 12 I really love the idea of these low-growing plants on small raised areas- looks so much like a fuzzy tapestry. The pale pinks, yellows, and greens combine in a lovely way.

SLIDE 13 This scene also seems to impart a tapestry-like effect. There are so many spikes of foxglove that they just seem to meld into one. The upright, sculptural quality of the tree prevents the eye from becoming disinterested.

SLIDE 14 A portion of the Plum Border at Hadspen House. As with the purple border in Slide 11, it is a study in different shades of the same color. This design concept creates very moody gardens- plum seems deep and passionate, whereas another color may seem upbeat and springy.

SLIDE 15 We’re back at the Chelsea Flower Show and the display by the Royal Horticultural Society for the final slide. A basket of orange, yellow, and red nasturtiums combine with some purple petunias and blue lobelia for a cheerful ball of color.