At the Arboretum – August 29, 2023

Texture, height, form and color all contribute to the creation of a lovely garden “snapshot” such as that presented by the tall, purple Tibouchina, daisy-like yellow flowers in the middle and the lower Black-eyed Susan’s at the front of the bed in the photo below. Purple and yellow are opposites on the color wheel and thus make for a strong complementary color combination.

The recently opened path that links the waterwise deck area to the lower area in front of Matilda’s cottage is another example of combining color, form, shape and height to create a pleasant to the eye vignette; there is a variety of low succulents, large mounds of silvery Artemisia. coral colored flowers in pots and more; there’s a bench nearby that allows a visitor to sit and enjoy the scenery.

Verbena bonariensis punctuates the gardens next to Matilda’s Cottage with its airy purple flowers held aloft on delicate stems; the pretty Rudbeckia ‘Henry Eilers’ with its spoon-like yellow flower petals is happily blooming in front of the Branching Out fence.