Q. As it relates to plants, can you provide homeowners some pointers on how to use height, texture, and colors to create specific moods or settings? For example, an English garden has a much different feel than an Asian garden. How do those elements factor into the design? ON LAYERING & PLANT SELECTION:
A.
Phipps’ Associate Director of Exhibits, Jordyn Melino, utilizes color schemes to create moods in various rooms of the garden. Pairing burgundy or purple foliage plants with white, silvers, and pastels creates a sultry, sophisticated setting, while lime green foliage paired with hot colors creates an energizing setting. Add interest and dimension by creating a focal point with height to the garden, such as a specimen tree or a trellis with a climbing vine, but be sure that it is appropriate to the scale of your space and consider something that will have year-round interest.
Homeowners should also consider the intended use of their garden space — are you looking to create the tranquility that a Japanese garden evokes? Keep the plant palette limited, repeating the same 3-4 types of shrubs or groundcovers with a few specimen trees, and add an audible element, such as trickling water or a wind chime. Are you looking to mix charm and utility that an English cottage garden boasts? Along a main pathway, develop flower beds that are densely planted with fine-leaved plants in a layered effect, balancing cool and warm colors, but don’t forget to repeat clumps of the same flowers throughout the bed to provide a unified look. These gardens often feature edible plants, such as herbs, for an easy harvest right outside the kitchen door.
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