TIERS OF JOY
Bring warmth and cheer with pink and purple which complement each other beautifully. In smaller spaces, use pretty little alpines such as Arabis and Dianthus.
Contrast different pot sizes of pink and purple tulips. Dicentra spectabilis is one my top spring plants and deserves a pot all of its own to admire its arching stems dripping with heart-shaped pink flowers. about different pot sizes ascending in height. Claus creates beautiful schemes, often just using one or two colours in different hues – for example, rows of pale cream tulips, white tulips and white daffodils, all to great effect.
Containers are an excellent way to capture the fleeting nature of some spring plants, especially tulips. Pots crammed with them can take centre stage outside your front door for the month they are at their best and then be discreetly removed while you allow their foliage to die back.
They can then be planted out in the garden or stored out of sight until next year. And waiting in the wings is your next batch of pots of colour.
I’ve given you some ideas to get you thinking about your spring containers.
These are only a few of the endless possibilities, but don’t be afraid to do your own thing and mix it all up in a Smartie-like confection of colours.
Or you may decide less is more and open your spring season with a single large statement plant, for example, the miniature white flowering cherry tree, Kojo-no-mai, or a choice Japanese maple about to unfurl its elegant leaves. These colours create a lovely contrast and there are plenty of plants in the spring palette to achieve a vibrant mix.
Blues can be sourced from violas, brunnera, omphalodes, gentian, muscari and anemone.
Pair with yellow wallflowers, Narcissus ‘Tete a Tete’ and primulas. Then pop in some herbs such as sage and rosemary for kitchen window boxes, in handy reach for cooking.