Friday, May 6, 2011

The Three Purples, and Maybe a Little Yellow Too

100_2571

I was walking by the Sunny Side Perennial Border (a frontyard garden) when I noticed these three purples consisting of the white and purple irises, the lavender woodland phlox, and finally the dark purple of the columbine. At first I wanted to change out the irises due to the intense purple of the irises. I had thought an iris that matched the woodland phlox would be a better fit. But then I looked again and I liked what I saw. Sometimes it pays not to jump the gun. 


100_2572


The three purple combination is nice enough but then when you add in the 'Carolina Moonlight' baptisia it is like wow, not so bad. The yellow seems to offset the purples a bit. One reason this works is that yellow and purple are opposite of each other on the color wheel, they are contrasting colors so they work well. Another reason the yellow and purples work, at least in my humble opinion, is that all four of the flowers (baptisia, irises, woodland phlox, and columbine) have different flower shapes.


100_2573


When we look at the two low growing purples we find they work okay. Not only are the colors complementary (both are purples) but the textures of the foliage and surrounding perennials help with tones and differentiation.


100_2575


Here we see a close up of these oldie but goodie irises. These irises are fabulous by themselves but can be difficult to work with when pairing them in the garden with other perennials. But in my case I am happy with the effect and have decided to leave the purples with a bit of yellow alone....


in the garden....

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there-especially to my dear mother. May she and all the mothers have lots of flowers in their lives on their special day and every day...
in the garden...

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

26 comments:

  1. I only have a couple of reblooming iris that are actually budding right now. I believe they are white.

    I agree the color and texture combination in this area work well. I wouldn't change a thing! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello tina

    Your irises are stunningly beautifl. I love the color combination of white and lovely purple. I saw your spring garden posts and was very glad to see your peonies, irises, and daffodiles and other pretty flowers again this spring!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I believe this is a wonderful combination...Hapy Mother's Day to you too!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Really have a "double p" happy day :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nancy, Aren't the irises the funnest plants? Such a variety of colors!

    Sapphire, It's been a spectacular spring and boy do I ever love spring!

    Darla, Happy Mother's Day to you too! What is a 'double p' day?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Beautiful purples - I love them with the yellow baptisia. It'sd funny how letting a plant combination settle in can change how you feel about it - glad you kept it!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I really like the bold colors of the white and purple iris, with the yellow baptista it is the perfect combination. I love yellows and purples together, complementary colors.

    ReplyDelete
  8. That iris and the baptisia are great! I've been trying to add different irises to our garden and purple seems to be a common theme. Is that phlox from Gail? If it is it's the same kind we have.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I like all purples together so I think they look great. And, yellow is so good with purple.

    Happy Mother's Day.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Cloudy today so maybe a bit of rain to come. I hope so as I dont have to drag the hose around again...

    I love all purples and all colors together. I dont think that Mother Nature looks at the color wheel when she plants things for us nor do the birds when they drop seeds and I think it works well. Funny how purple looks purple until another shade of purple is near then it seems to become a different color. Beautiful together Tina and don’t go digging them up girl. You are always looking for an excuse to dig something up. Hee hee…

    Happy Mothers Day to all mommys out there!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I think they all look really pretty together. I love the yellow Baptisia in front of the Iris. I don't even see buds yet on my Irises :(
    Happy Mother's Day Tina!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi all! Busy day for me and next week too! Just popping in for a sec.

    Dave, Yes! Gail gave me the PPPP and I do love it!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Everything looks great to me.

    Since my mother is long gone to heaven (will be 24 years) I like to say "Happy Mother's Day" to my 4 AWESOME daughters that have given me all of the AWESOME grandkids that I have along with the 3 great grandkids with 2 more to come this year. Love you all very, very much!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hey Skeeter
    Your canipy patio and chair area is a great idea. We've been trying to figure out how to put something like that in our grassed back yard.
    Sounds like your have done a bit of traveling! I love your random question about kitty litter in our introduction space. Made me laugh.
    Have a blue skies kind of Mothers day! Betty
    http://gardeningjoy4thesoul.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Tina, I love your illustration of contrasts and similarities. What a beautiful site.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi all.
    Tina, that combination is out of this world. I love it. My iris are all finished.
    I found a lovely little Verbena that has lavender/white blooms. It just had to follow me home. Another was a Lantana that had the lovely lavender blooms. Oh my, I do like lavender. Blue, I like that too.
    I would like to wish all the mommies out there a very HAPPY MOTHERS DAY.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Your iris looks like it could be 'Helen Collingswood'. The combination is beautiful. I find myself doing that all the time, thinking of moving something and then later deciding that I like the plant combinations after all.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Tina,
    I really like the mix of plants in your garden and that iris is just lovely. I also enjoyed seeing the rabbit and deer eating together in the earlier post- what an odd looking pair of friends (scale wise). Enjoy your weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Tina, Such a lovely combination and a great heirloom iris. Thanks for the Mother's Day wishes and same to you if you are a mother. Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  20. I like purple flowers. I am growing iris for the first time this year, can't wait to see they bloom come spring here. I really like your iris and columbine. Happy Mother Day to you too.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Great combinations. I believe in lots of purples.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Purple and yellow works for me. After looking at your pretty flowers and beds, I'm wishing I had more more places to plant sunny flowers.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I have those same Irises, my neighbor gave me a clump. They look great with the Phlox and I love them with that Baptisia 'Carolina Moonlight'. She's a beauty, must add her to my garden soon... Happy Mother's Day Tina!!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Happy mothers day to you Tina. Your iris are beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Pretty!! I love the combinations and your iris are totally stunning! I am so happy to have come across your post through blotancial, I'm excited to follow your blog...cheers Julia

    ReplyDelete
  26. interesting post Tina, I find irises too showy to blend easily with other perennials, but this combination definitely works.cheers, cm

    ReplyDelete

ALL SPAM WILL BE PROMPTLY FRIED. PLEASE DO NOT LIFT PHOTOS OR WORDS. THANKS!