Cool color in the garden
White narrowleaf zinnia
It sometimes seems backwards to me that my hottest colors—reds and yellows—are concentrated in my shadier back garden, while the cooler pinks, lavenders, whites, and silvers predominate in the sunnier front garden. Sure, there are exceptions, but that’s what stands out right now.
I’ve been mixing it up lately by adding hotter colors in the front. But I’m keeping it hot in the back yard too. No shrinking violets for my shade garden.
For a change of pace, though, here are some cool greens and whites that often get overlooked.
Nolina texana with narrowleaf zinnias
Queen Victoria agave, a pretty little agave with cool, white stripes.
Freckled Manfreda maculosa, a native succulent. This one has been holding an unopened bloom stalk aloft for a month. I’m still waiting for it to open.
Whoops! A hot-pink pavonia flower breaks up this white-and-green reverie. Back to color.
That hot pink made my eyes dilate!
… i am drooling… love the flowers… but I am really drawn to the big piece of pottery with the grass flowing out of it… you really have a lovely spot… I had to chuckle when I read your post about your touches of purple with your green house… I have the same house color and went with purple accents too… will have to send you a photo !! Just love your site.
Thanks, Diana. The grass-like plant in the pot is a native nolina. It looks great spilling over retaining walls too. A little anole lizard lives in the one in my garden. —Pam
I love visiting this site. It’s so exotic in comparison to what we’ve got going up in WNY.
Is it? I suppose the agaves and succulents seem particularly exotic. Most of the plants I grow are quite common around here, so I forget how different they might seem to northern gardeners. Thanks for commenting, Elizabeth. Soon you’ll be growing exotic pond plants, right? —Pam
Pam, I hadn’t been able to check your blog for a few days so I had some catching-up to do. Your garden is beautiful, as usual. I love the picture of the Vitex and your house, it’s so lovely. The daylilies are beautiful too. I always love your close up shots, but I’m glad you zoomed out to show Carol your cream colored bench, that was a lovely shot, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for stopping by, Robin. I was a little shy about showing Carol that cream-colored bench, after all that talk about my brightly colored garden furniture. 😉 —Pam
Love that big pot with nolina in combination with the narrowleaved zinnias, excellent! Those white stripes on the agave look very elegant, I like it.
Thanks, YE. Every year I debate about putting river rock around the base of that pot instead of a summer annual, but I do like that combo of the nolina and the narrowleaf zinnias. I’m glad you like it too. —Pam
Pam: That is a most inviting entry garden. I like the cool colors in such a hot area. White is great at night also.
Thank you, Layanee. —Pam
Pam… that grass in the pot is gorgeous. Especially with the low flowers around it. So elegant and understated. 🙂
I don’t know how “understated” happened in my garden, but thanks! —Pam
I also L-O-V-E the huge pot in front of your door. I fall into the category of erring on the side of large, so anytime I see a huge pot I drool 😉 It makes such an impact and bold statement at your front door.
Thanks, Rosemarie. I love large pots too and have scattered a few of them through the gardens, but this is the only one that I’ve put plants in. —Pam
Well, it’s unanimous, we all love that pot combination, it really is stunning! I agree that your garden looks very exotic compared to mine and others’.
OK, that settles it. I’ll keep planting white narrowleaf zinnia around that pot every summer since everyone likes it so much. Thanks for commenting. —Pam