Colour!

Such a personal thing – colour. Some like muted colours, some vibrant. Most people agree that colours you’d never wear together work in the garden.

Maybe the calmness of whites and pinks work for you or the vibrancy of red, orange and yellow. I did a border a few years ago near Inverness that I called mellow yellow: despite red, orange and yellow being in the border it worked, thanks to Achillea terracotta. Unfortunately not a long lived plant in our climate.

I have a dislike for pale pink and yellow together, but if you throw in purple, that might rescue it.

And of course our perception of colour is entirely different to the one’s of pollinators!

Whatever it is that works for you – enjoy it as colour is good for the soul.

pictures: Picture 1: Inula and Crocosmia Lucifer with peacock butterflies, everything goes on picture 2 – the cerise pink brings it together, picture 3 a white border (not easy with our Highland light – white shines more in places like Sissinghurst. But our autumn colours are better – I think!), picture 4 all about foliage no flowers – but still colour!

Spring – jump joy! = GardenJoy!!!

Isn’t it lovely, the first warming rays of the spring sunshine. Some flowers are already providing nectar for the bees (some have all winter of course – but I wasn’t outside as much then!). And there is that ANTICIPATION… Yippeee – winter is nearly over (we hope). ENJOY!!!!

I hope you’re enjoying the autumn colours – here some asters and helianthus to cheer you up.

Too much to do in the garden? 

Here’s how to de-stress yourself: 

make a (long) list of things to do

have a cuppa in the garden

spill it

list and jobs gone! Sorted! 

here is a lawn – a lawn for humans and for wildlife. Just because it’s not just green – is it less of a lawn? It’s more of a lawn because it feeds bees and other insects. Encourage those insects and you have less issues with pests in your garden, as the garden is in balance with nature. How to achieve it? Set the lawn mower to the right height when cutting the grass. Easy and in my eye – beautiful.

I just love seeing planting mature.

Landscaping by Bill Collins.

Had a lovely day in Inverness today placing plants. The only one that was put out a wee bit was Clyde. ‘What happened to the grass that was here?’