The Mercury News

Bright colors, bold rocks on trend for 2017

- — Joan Morris, Staff

With our wet weather and fluctuatin­g temperatur­es, it’s hard to get into the mood for gardening, but here are some hot trends to consider for your garden from Monrovia Nursery. Small sized luxury: If you’re working with a small space in your garden, add scaled-down versions of iconic plants such as hydrangeas, roses, berries, conifers and clematis to the garden.

Floratouri­sm: More travelers these days are spending their vacation hours at national parks, botanical gardens and arboretums, then using them for inspiratio­n in their own gardens. No waste movement: Gardeners and gardens are being influenced by the “no waste” food movement. A third of households are now growing food. If you have a more traditiona­l flower and shrub garden, ease into it by growing perennial herbs or adding some vegetables to your landscapin­g. Color chameleons: Gardeners are gaga over color-changing plants that provide consistent yearround beauty. Fuss-free conifers look beautiful in all seasons, but add some surprising color in the winter. Extreme naturalism: Don’t be afraid to add natural elements in your garden. Rocks, boulders and untouched hedges can add an integrated sense of structure to your garden. Climate adaptation: We’ve been focused on saving water in our gardens and landscape for several years, and we should continue to focus on California natives and drought-tolerant plants. Bright, bold colors: Don’t shy away from brilliant oranges, feverish reds, neon yellows, vivid purples, deep, dark reds and black-purples in your garden this year. One-pot wonders: Containers filled with different sorts of plants have been replaced by a trend of using one type of plant per pot, such as a compact hydrangea and new varieties of pomegranat­es, lavenders, succulents and berries.

 ?? STAFF ARCHIVES ?? Gardening in a small space? Try new, smaller varieties of hydrangea, above, clematis, roses, berries and conifers.
STAFF ARCHIVES Gardening in a small space? Try new, smaller varieties of hydrangea, above, clematis, roses, berries and conifers.

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