Gardens … they’ve got the blues by – Diane Morey Sitton
There are shades of blue as intense as a Texas sky, as rich as a bluebonnet’s petals and as electrifying as a bluebird’s wing. But whether it’s cobalt blue or cornflower blue, azure or aquamarine, there’s no doubt that Texas gardeners – and gardeners elsewhere – can’t get enough of blue garden décor.
It’s hard to say what makes blue such a popular garden accent color. Maybe it’s because there are endless shades, tones, and tints of blue, making it compatible with all styles of gardens from cottage gardens to cactus gardens.
If you want to start small, add a blue ceramic pot or a blue gazing ball. If you like what you see, paint an arbor, add a blue garden umbrella, or design a blue mosaic table top to create a stronger focal point. Outdoor furniture readily welcomes blue upholstery and pillows. And when day gives way to night, blue string lights enliven decks, patios, and courtyards.
When adding blue to your garden, you’ll quickly learn that pairing blue with white creates a calm, tranquil environment, like white clouds floating in a clear blue sky. Pairing blue with yellow and orange is vibrant and energetic — loud like a parrot and as much fun as a fiesta! Best of all, blue is a natural companion to green foliage, especially when the particular shade of blue is a blend of blue and green. Perhaps the best example is teal. Beloved by gardeners, teal forms a natural connection to nature, suggesting growth and renewal.
For gardeners who can’t decide between periwinkle blue and picotee blue, baby blue and robin egg blue, there’s good news: when decorating gardens with blue décor, it’s a matter of personal preference. In gardens large or small, create whimsy by mixing different shades of blue. Unify large or small spaces by decorating with a single shade. Create a monochromatic color scheme by using the same shade of pots to reinforce the beautiful blooms of hydrangea, agapanthus, Victoria blue sage, plumbago, and other blue-flowering selections.
Yes, here in Texas, the color blue runs deep. “Old Glory” blue flies in our state flag. Bluebonnets color our fields and roadsides as our State Flower. Blue glistens in Texas blue topaz, our official State Gem.
In Texas, it seems only natural that the wonderfully varied shades, tones and tints of blue enliven our gardens, too!