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Published on Hutchinson Leader (http://www.hutchinsonleader.com)

Garden Tip

By Chris Schlueter
Created 08/29/2008 - 9:39am

White Moon gardens

White seems to bring out the true hues of any color with which it is paired. Place a white flower next to green and it takes on a greenish tinge. The same amazing thing happens with yellow, pink or blue. White has many personalities; it takes color to bring out the many wonderful combinations of white. Everything goes with white, so you can use it as accents or have an entire garden just white to shine in the moonlight.
Garden Tip
Adventurous gardeners are willing to try these monochromatic gardens for a new look that will turn heads.
An all-white garden cools and calms. Some gardeners design elegant white flower refuges. A simple white palette paints borders with endless intrigue when white flowers mingle with the varieties of different leaf textures and colors. The big and bold with the fine- such as a coneflower with lacy white yarrow, the smooth with the textured- candytuft with hostas. Large white flowers such as lilies or Matilija poppy lift the garden’s horizon with simple, bold focal points. The delicate finery of baby’s breath, Queen Anne’s lace, or snow-in-summer breaks up reflected light for an effect of glimmering romance.
Bright white beacons one to come sit and stay awhile.
Silver and silvery blue set off white, illuminating it. Although white provides a luminous divider for other colors, it can appear dim in colder climates.
How to use white:
Highlight a focal point at the end of a path with white flowers or a white container.
Some spectacular whites for landscapes include: davidia, snowbell, magnolia and dogwood. Some birches have white trunks that add texture.
Against the backdrop of a white fence, paint with the boldest plant colors possible, such as orange and scarlet.
Light up your garden with white versions of these plants: ageratum, cosmos, heliotrope, rhododendron, clematis, bee balm and bleeding heart.
Add some white lace into your borders with these light and airy flowers: rockcress, baby’s breath, The Pearl yarrow and gooseneck loosestrife, astilbe, lily of the valley has miniature white bells that work wonderful in shadier settings.
Once you single out white as color you want to incorporate in your garden you will be amazed at how many white plants there actually are.
The moonflower is a really unique plant that resembles a large morning glory flower with a very pleasing scent. It will only bloom at dusk so keep it near a place you visit or sit by in the early evening.
By using white as an accent with other flowers or deciding to have totally white moon garden, you will have addition to your yard that is incomparable.
You can use these same principles with any color; go for an all blue or red garden. The only thing that limits a garden is your imagination. An all white garden is really a must if you want to appreciate all that nature has to offer. The foliage really can set off the white blooms and offer a backdrop to all the shapes, sizes and textures of white plants.
I would start a list by going through catalogs and plant books looking for plants that are white. Once you have a list you will need to draw up a plan for the space you intend to use the plants in. Try to group together in clumps in odd numbers and keep the taller plants to the back. This is just a basic rule for all gardens. The rest of the design will be up to you

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