Just like most things in life, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If
purple blooms put a smile on your face, then you should most definitely
use plants with purple blooms. The same is true for any color you find
pleasing. There are different disciplines to pull from when trying to
decide on color choices, but those disciplines speak in generalities;
your own personal experiences mold your tastes into something unique,
something your own, something a text or curriculum cant possibly
pinpoint.
That being said, one of the disciplines I like to pull from often,
especially when it comes to color choices, is Feng Shui. While Im not
part of the Feng Shui orthodoxy, the design and layout lessons Ive
taken from Feng Shui are fundamentally grounded in sound design. They
can be used inside and outside the home, no matter if you have each and
every room aligned to maximize its chi (energy), or you just want to
make a garden space more appealing.
For example, a room (defined by either an indoor or outdoor space) with
metal energy tends to be very clean and structured. Some colors that
are considered to have metal energy are white, silver and gold. And in
my opinion, some lighter blues, when considering plant blooms, could be
grouped with those colors as well. Metal energy tends to allow for
clear and concise thinking and the carrying out and completion of
tasks.
On a much smaller scale, when I finish a landscape design and want to
begin the next design, I need some of the cleansing effects of metal
energy. I remove every template, pencil, eraser bag and architect's
scale from my drafting table and I wipe down the table. Im left with a
stark white table, and with that I am able to lay down a new piece of
vellum and wash the previous design from my mind and begin to get
involved with the next space Ill design. I find that structure and the
absence of color leaves my imagination open to consider new design
possibilities.
The very same can be true for a garden space. An organized, mass
planting of white Tulip bulbs can provide a space in your yard to give
you clarity of thought or purpose. Add some yellows and earthy tones to
blend a nurturing feeling into that planting. Itll give you the same
feeling as you get with an early morning cup of coffee, watching the
sun rise to greet a new day; full of warmth, potential and purpose.
Youve heard of the power tie or the power dress, right? Take that flame
red color to the blooms in your yard and you may be filled with those
same feelings of power and confidence. Are you more the strong, silent
type? Blues and violets can lend a feeling of inner strength and
serenity.
I believe the first decision you should make when planning your color
scheme for your yard is to decide how you want to feel when youre
taking in the beauty of that space. Once you have a sense for that, I
recommend finding a book or two to help you make your selections. Feng
Shui in 10 Simple Lessons by Janet Butler-Briggs, is a wonderful
beginning to learning that approach to using color.
Color Harmony by Bride M. Whelan, shows you hundreds of different color
combinations with real-life examples of their use, to help you create
the perfect space, indoors or out.
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