Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Is White A Color In The Garden?

Well, I guess it depends who you ask.  Some scientists say that white is the embodiment of all colors, ask a painter and he says if it comes in a can it's a color.

Chanticleer Pear
A stronger pear tree than the Bradford, great for smaller properties or tight areas in the garden, the smell of the flowers is not pleasant but the beauty is worth the little offense to the nose.

Star Magnolia
The flower structure is really beautiful, just about done with the green leaves ready to emerge.  If you are going to prune, this is the time to do it so next year's blooms are not damaged.

Amelanchier Regent has had its difficulties throughout the past six plus years.  I finally fed them a systemic last year rather than the organic fertilizer that I had been giving them each year.  This year several branches had to be pruned out because the weight of the snow broke them.  This is the best they have ever looked!

Allysum Snow Princess
This is a newer introduction by Proven Winners, most floriforus of all allysum

White Daffodil Thalia With Yellow Itzim

White Emperor Tulip


I guess I never thought of Pussy Willows as being white, but upon close examination, they are many shades of white.


Dicentra Spectablis Alba
Not quite white yet, will have to revisit this one

I love bright colors, soft colors and everything in between but white in the garden seems to enhance all of them!

37 comments:

Larry said...

A wonderful post Eileen and your new header is fantastic! I love Thalia!! Larry

Darla said...

Love white in the gardens..especially in the evenings.

Lily said...

Eileen,

Thalia and Itzim is a winning combination. I look forward to seeing your beautiful garden as the season progresses.

Karen said...

Eileen, I would say white is definitely a color in your beautiful garden! I did not know pear blooms were not pleasantly scented, but the floral display certainly is worth it.

The white daffodils just took my breath away, I must look for these for next year. Gorgeous.

Cher' Shots said...

Beautiful pictures! I think white is definately a 'color' through a gardener;s eye! If you can see it, it's a color in my book.
'hugs from afar'

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Eileen girl I absolutely love white and even with the scientific explanation, I still think of white as a colour. Darla is right about it being beautiful early evening .. add early morning to that as well. I love to have it dotted around the garden as a foil to colour. I love all of your white plants : ) beautiful !!
Joy

Diana LaMarre said...

I love white in the garden. I really enjoyed seeing the white daffodils. I don't think I have seen those before.

Lona said...

Some gardeners do not like white in the garden but for me the color look brighter with some white thrown in. I love white in the garden. White blooms have such a delicate look than no colored flower can top. Your Thalia daffodils are so pretty and just look how it sharpens the green foliage.The pear tree is shaped so perfectly. Just stunning.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Larry,

I forget about Thalis every year because it is later to come up, but a very welcome sight.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Darla,

You are right, white at night is captivating.,

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Lily, I have all of my plants in the garage tonight. As you probably know, we have a frost warning.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Karen,

You would love a pear tree to look at in your garden, just don';t sit under it.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

I agree Cher, if you can see it, it's a color even black which they say is the absence of color.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Joy, I do like to see white here and there in the garden. It always pops!

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Zoey,

The white Thalias are very delicate and whispy, not strong like the yellow ones.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Lona,

Funny I do not like stark white inside my house but in the garden it seems softer than when paited on wood or ceramic.

Eileen

Mary Anne said...

Eileen:

I can't believe I have not seen your garden in person! Your flowers are beautiful.....God bless them tonight! See you soon and let's take a walk in that great garden of yours. All of the white garden candy.....I loved it!

M.A. ox

Shirley said...

I love white in the garden, particularly when entertaining in the evening. Your Star Magnolia is beautiful! I hope mine will flower this year.

Balisha said...

I am especially drawn to white flowers. Put a white flower in the garden and it's the first thing that I notice. I love it in shady places.Balisha

Anonymous said...

I'm a lover of an all white garden, especially when the garden is a "shadow" garden...always beautiful.
Lovely images....that star magnolia...!
Ronelle

HolleyGarden said...

I'm loving all these whites - especially the white daffodils and your star magnolia. Your gardens are beautiful!

Indoor Fountains said...

Love the new look of the site!!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Mary Anne,

You know how the garden changes daily, so we'll see what it's like on the 16th.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Shirley,

My Star Magnolia is just about done, too bad it is such a short bloom time.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Balisha,

The white is pretty here and there in the garden. I do need color especially during the summer.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Holly Garden,

Thanks for stopping by, all of these wonderful spring flowers are gone too soon.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Ronelle,

The white is a calming treat in a spring garden especially when we keep getting the blasts of cold weather.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Indoor Fountains,

I keep changing the headers to keep up with the seasonal changes.

Eileen

Jennifer@threedogsinagarden said...

Some great whites- the pear tree is stunning opener! I bet the star magnolia was beautiful too. Mine is just coming into flower now. The white daffodils also caught my eye.

Sissy said...

I guess I am in the minority. After looking at snow for so many months, I don't need white in my garden!!! I do have the ornamental pear, the builder put it in, but it has been banished to the side yard!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Sissy,

I know what you mean about the snow, it's a bad memory.

I don't mind a little white in the garden, just like in all the great paintings it draws your eye in and becomes a focal point. So, I think if it is well placed it can add to the overall effect.

Eileen

joey said...

I love white, Eileen, a favorite in my garden. My cherry tree is in bloom as is the white shadblow ... stunning with all the cheerful colors of spring!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Joey,

I like a little white also, so relaxing to see white in a spring and summer garden.

Eileen

Anonymous said...

What an awesome post, Eileen. Your blog is so much eye candy. Yes, white is a color and I agree that it enhances other colors. It also is a nice buffer to use between hot and cool colors to keep them from clashing as I am hoping my 'David' phlox will do place between a pink hydrangea and my orangey-purple 'Cinco de Mayo' rose. :)

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Grace,

My Cinco de Mayo looks like it's a goner, just two small shoots coming out of the side.

Eileen

Jan said...

It is interesting to see your Star Magnolia in bloom right now...as ours were in bloom in early to mid March! I always get a kick out of the differences in bloom time, nation-wide;-) All of your whites are lovely. I just planted several Dicentra Spectabalis 'Alba'...yesterday, in fact! While my pink ones have finished blooming, I had wanted some whites. The greenery on my pink ones has grown tall and wide...and I assume the white will do the same. Will have to check back and see yours in full bloom;-)

garden girl said...

I love white in the garden too. If I had the space I'd definitely follow in Vita Sackville-West's footsteps and have an all-white garden. I love how visible white blooms are, and how they glow at night, especially on cloudless night when the moon is full.