Serenity with ease - Guide - flower garden tips - Brief Article

Sunset, June, 2002 by Sharon Cohoon

* The palette of silver, yellow green, and white plants shown at right is soft and soothing. It's also low maintenance. "Other than watering, you can leave it alone all summer and fall," says designer Barbara Deed.

The planting's reliance on foliage for interest is what makes it so easy, says Deed. "It's all about texture." The plant with the plush, silvery gray leaves and pink and white flower spikes on the left is Plectranthus argentatus. Needle-leafed Westringia fruticosa provides a sharp contrast next to it. The yellow green plant in the center, which looks a bit like ruffled celery, is variegated 'Prince Rypert', a scented geranium. "It looks good with anything. It belongs in every border," says Deed.

Golden sage (in the foreground, at right) and Carex comans 'Frosty Curls' (the blond grass) repeat the colors of the geranium leaves. 'Star White' zinnia is the final touch. It blooms nonstop until Thanksgiving, and rarely needs deadheading.