Colour as an illusion
It is always heartening to me that in the cold of winter, the colours most featured in the natural landscape are warm reds, oranges and yellows. As in seasons, colour changes through the day too.
There is the influence of the first earlymorning light bathing the garden in soft golden hues, colours “washing out” under the harsh midday sun, then gradually as light becomes less intense the garden takes on its true colours, becoming gentle as the sun drops below the horizon.
You will notice when taking photographs, colour is at its truest form when a subject is captured away from the harshness of the sun.
In the garden, colour may be used purposely in giving a warmer or cooler impression, for tempering or manipulating a mood, denoting a spaces’ function and eluding or deceiving the eye.
However, colour never stands alone. Its effect is influenced by the colours surrounding it. Consulting a colour wheel, you may appreciate how they can enhance, make each other “pop”, blend together or “fight” one other.
The colour wheel was invented by Sir Isaac Newton in 1666 and remains the basic tool for combining colours in landscapes and home decorating. It is based off the three primary colours (red, yellow and blue) with the secondary and tertiary colours between each of these three. It may be divided in half, with warm colours which draw the eye, giving the effect of cheerfulness, energy and drama, while cooler ones increase the sense of space; induce a spirit of calm and serenity.
Renowned plantswoman Gertrude Jekyll propounded the theory of using warmer colours near the house and cooler shades further away.
Complementary colours are positioned on opposite sides of the colour wheel giving the greatest contrast or “pop” of colour when paired together, for example red and green or purple and orange.
Harmonious colours are beside each other on the colour wheel. A natural threepart harmony is created when an equilateral triangle is drawn between colours on a colour wheel. How to get started:
● Favour one colour and its tones and then use another as an accent.
● Use texture and form for variety rather than too much focus on flower colour.
● Less is more.
● Avoid the chaos of too many colours.
● Use green-/ grey-leaved plants to make the transition from one colour to another.
● Plant cooler-coloured plants in the forefront, with warmer-coloured plants at the back of the bed so they are not upstaged by their neighbours.
All colours influence their environment.
If your garden is sun-drenched and hot in summer, choose a palette of plants that can withstand the heat, in blends of blues, mauves, lilacs, greys and silvers to give the impression of coolness.
Attention-grabbing red signifies boldness and its cheeriness has a welcoming effect, serving to “announce ” to a visitor their arrival at the front door, for example. Red need only be used in small quantities in the garden as it can be overpowering.
Purple/blue with red has a regal effect. Blue’s habit is to blend into the distance and may be used to deceive the eye.
Planting shades of blue/purple with grey foliaged plants at the end of a property make the garden appear larger since they blend into the beyond.
Blue is also a soothing colour used to create a sense of peace, especially where the surroundings are near a noisy, high-traffic or busy zone.
Make blue play with perspective in a bed by mixing a combination of blues together with repeated combinations of perennial convolvulus, and annuals such as alyssum, petunias and lobelias. Blue mixes well with most colours, as does pink.
Yellow is effective in a border of mixed flowers, singling itself out as we see when a yellow day lily waves brightly above its companions. White has a range of warm and cool qualities; from creamy flowered gardenias to snowy white Iceberg roses.
Bring light relief to shade by planting white flowering plants such as begonias, St Joseph ’ s lilies and the Mackaya bella shrub. As white blooms are the last to fade when night falls, they are most effective around an evening outdoor entertainment area. White Iceberg roses surrounding a lit water fountain are appealing as a focal point. Green has many interesting variations in its leaf colour; grey green, lime green, yellow green and blue green. Combined naturally together, they provide a non-intrusive background to other colours.
A rich green lawn serves to unify all elements in the garden. While hedges may be trimmed as features, they also form a serene backdrop for busier beds in front of it. Remember, apart from flowers, foliage colour in reds, apricots and yellows, for example, has influence too.
Our new gardening column In the Garden is written by feature writer, garden enthusiast and former schoolteacher Julia Smith, who has returned home to
” live in Chintsa East. The column looks to inform both novice and accomplished gardeners how to make the most of their green patch.