The colors you choose to put in your garden greatly affect how it will look, but did you know that color can influence the way you feel in your garden? Bright, bold colors invigorate and energize while soft pastels are passive and relaxing. Colors trigger unconscious emotional responses and knowing more about them will help you design spaces that create the mood you desire. Whether you want to liven up your patio for entertaining or make your deck a weekend retreat, using color can greatly enhance the enjoyment you get out of your yard.

Our world is made up of millions of discernable colors, and you can find flowers in nearly every color of the spectrum. Technically speaking color is light. Differing wave lengths of reflected or absorbed light may not be interesting to all of us, but those of us who love flowers care that a purple flower will get lost in a shady area and bright colors do well in sunlight.

The color wheel is the best tool to help us understand the possibilities. The three primary colors are red, yellow and blue. Combine these and you get secondary colors of green, purple, and orange. Adding black to any of these colors will produce "shades" and adding white will create "tints" (pastels).

Reaction to colors is cultural, but researchers in the U.S. have found the following:

• RED is a color that demands attention. It is associated with heat, activity, excitement, power and dominance. The color red stimulates heartbeat, breathing and appetite. Red is a primary color, but its appearance in flowers is rarely pure. It tends to lean to the blue side of red (purple) or the yellow side of red (orange). These two types of red are rarely used together.
• ORANGE represents excitement and can be stimulating. It is second to red, not quite as strong as red, and not as sunny as yellow. 
• YELLOW is an attention getter. It is considered optimistic, and can enhance concentration and speed up metabolism. Yellow is difficult for the eye to take in and too much can be overpowering.
• GREEN is calming, serene and refreshing. It is the easiest color on the eyes and is always present in the backdrop of foliage.
  
• BLUE symbolizes loyalty and causes the body to produce calming chemicals. It makes people feel peaceful and tranquil. Blue is a recessive color that creates an impression of distance and can be cold and depressing.
• PURPLE is heavy and intense and is the color of luxury, wealth and sophistication. It is a recessive color and can disappear in shady gardens.

Design Tips for Using Color

• Use the same color repeatedly in different garden areas to unify the entire yard.
• Choose colors that look good with their surroundings and won't get lost against their background.
• Pastel colors can get washed out in bright sunlight unless they can be viewed up close.
• White and cream flowers, as well as silver foliage, work well for blending different colors.
• Bright, vibrant colors hold their color well even in brilliant sunshine.
• Light-colored flowers lighten up shady areas.
• Use warm colors to make a garden seem larger, and cool color pallets to give the illusion of the garden being farther away.

The more you learn about color, the better you can use it to your advantage in designing your landscapes. Color helps you enhance your outdoors and create the mood you desire.

Warm colors (red, oranges and yellows) attract attention and create a sense of warmth and security. Flowers in this color pallet are a good choice for front entries, or a patio where you entertain. Cool colors (greens, blues and purples) promote serenity and relaxation. Choose these colors where you like to feel relaxed and contemplative.

Flowers you can use to paint your garden are found in nearly every color of the spectrum. Combining flowers with different colors that look good together is difficult for many people. Replicating something you've seen, or sticking with the tried and true, will always look good. If you are ready to try something new, following the basic color combination schemes mentioned next will make it easier for you.

Harmonious colors (blues and violets, or reds and oranges) blend colors next to each other in the color wheel. Harmonious color combinations unify a garden, are gentle on the eyes, and are a good place to start if color decisions are difficult for you.

Complementary colors (red and green, or blue and yellows) are made up of colors opposite on the color wheel. This combination is playful, creative, and will add vitality and contrast to your garden.

Monochromatic colors makes an impact with only one color. There are many shades within one color, and many shapes, sizes and textures to light up your garden with a sophisticated look.

By Barb Cross