Contrasting Colours in Gardens and Containers

December 8, 2023 ~ Loreeebee ~ Leave a comment

Contrasting colours rather than complementary ones make a bigger impact in your garden. Most people tend to opt for complementing colors when choosing plants. I always tell my clients “remember, you are not wearing the plants, they do not have to match!“

Choose colours that are opposite (not next to) each other on the colour wheel (as pictured above) to create some drama.

Use Colour Contrasts in Containers Too

I love using coleus in containers for the wide range of contrasting colour in their foliage. Straight from the nursery, choose from the many options in contrasting colour combinations within the same plant! The chartreuse green of creeping jenny or sweet potato vines make the red tones of the coleus pop in your creations:

For full sun containers, I tend to go for purple, pink, red, blue and yellow for the “fillers” and “spillers.” Their bright colours look so summery and vivid against the various shades of green which are perfect backdrops for “thrillers” and additional “spillers.”

Choose Perennials with Contrasting Flower Colours but the Same Bloom Time

When choosing perennials for your garden beds, instead of picking matching colours, try selecting contrasting colours in plants that bloom at the same time. For example, this yellow ligularis in front of a purple clematis creates a much more eye-catching scenario than two yellow or two purple plantings.

Another great example in my yard is my collection of daylilies I have in a raised bed at the side of my house. From dark wine-red to pale peach, they are contrasting yet compliment each other beautifully!

Foliage with Contrasting Colours

Another trick to make individual plants stand out is to place contrasting foliage colours next to or in front of each other. An example here is the leaves of a purple smoke tree (that just had a haircut so will soon be much taller) behind (right now it looks like it’s inside) the bright green leaves of a hydrangea.

Try some new contrasting combinations in your garden to create some drama. Be sure to send me pictures of your combinations.

Remember, forget the matchy-matchy look, you are not wearing the plants!

Amaryllis Bulbs, Plant Them Now!

November 9, 2023November 9, 2023 ~ Loreeebee ~ 1 Comment

Plant your amaryllis bulbs indoors this week for Christmas-time blooms. They take six or seven weeks to grow into gorgeous flowers. I have seen them in red, red and white, white and pale pink; all are beautiful!

Most grocery and department stores or nurseries carry them in kits with everything you need included. Each box contains a bulb, soil, and a pot with instructions on how to grow your amaryllis. Once potted up, leave it in an (indirect) sunny spot and watch it grow. Turn the pot regularly to keep the stem growing straight. Some may need to be supported as they get tall and top-heavy.

I purchased such a kit at a local grocery store recently for my granddaughter to plant between her online school sessions and one for her younger cousin to plant on her next visit here. Both granddaughters are turning into garden and plant enthusiasts.

In recent years I have planted lots of variations. One thing I have learned is that they are extremely top-heavy when full-grown. For that reason, be sure to add a stick to support them in their pot, attaching the growing stem to the stick with a loose tie.

Take your pick, but do it soon if you want them to bloom in time for Christmas. As you can see below, Amazon has lots of gorgeous varieties to choose from:

Lomi: Convert Kitchen Waste to Plant Food

September 24, 2023October 11, 2023 ~ Loreeebee ~ Leave a comment

Do you compost your organic waste or is the chore too much of a hassle? I must admit, I go back and forth. Recently though, I came across an option for an electric kitchen composter that may have piqued my interest enough to coerce me back into the practice. Reducing food waste into nutrient-dense plant food? Did someone say plants? I like that idea, as long as fruit flies and rotten odours don’t invade my kitchen. However, an under-the-cupboard garbage bin generates both of those problems too. That’s the argument I will use on my hubby to persuade him to give Lomi a try.

Introducing Lomi

Introducing the world’s first Smart Waste appliance, Lomi fits on your kitchen counter, ready to devour your organic (no meat or bones) kitchen waste. If you consume lots of fresh fruit and vegetables like my family does, this might appeal to you too. My morning smoothie alone generates lots of appropriate fuel for the Lomi.

Traditional Composting

I currently have three outdoor composters that are used less frequently every year. The main reason (or excuse) for that is that the procedure takes lots of time. Filling, turning, and emptying the heavy bins is not easy, especially for seniors with arthritic wrists. They are considerably less expensive than the (modern) electric Lomi.

Of the three traditional, outdoor composters I have, my favourite is definitely the tumbling one. It looks something like the first one below, without the fancy colours. I love the fact that it rotates to flip the contents around but it is quite heavy when full, so not the easiest to maneuver. I have to enlist the help of my husband or one of my three sons to rotate and remove it from its base to empty.

The second one pictured appears to have taken those negative aspects into consideration as it stands on legs and features a handle. It also is divided into two lighter chambers. Perhaps that would make it easier to rotate and empty.

I would love to hear comments on which models other gardeners use.

The Current Landfill Situation is a Global Problem

Regardless of your current composting methods, our landfills are filling at an alarming rate. We have to be smarter. Composting organic kitchen scraps with Lomi is a start and something individual families can do at home. A recent post discussed garbage incinerators, an even more significant step in the right direction.