Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Summer is the time for family and school reunions. Rhonda Ferree, Horticulture Educator with University of Illinois Extension, suggests taking reunions to another level by starting a reunion garden.
"School reunion gardens are especially nice to do using flowers in your school colors." "You've probably noticed that school colors typically include bright, complementary colors." "This also works to create dramatic gardens." Let's use University of Illinois's orange and blue colors as an example.
Flowers are often most vibrant when placed with their complementary color. On a color wheel, orange is the complementary color of blue. Complimentary colors create great contrast and cause both colors to pop. Color intensity is also a factor. Bright orange works better with bright blue instead of soft blue.
Here are some plants to try in an Illini garden. True blue is very hard to find in the plant world, so you might need to consider using violet-blue instead.
Plant some bulbs for early spring interest. Consider orange crocus, tulip, or narcissus. For blue-purple accents add grape hyacinths, scillas, or an anemone.
Many annual flowers come in blue. For early spring color use a pansy in deep purple with an orange eye. Other purple annuals include petunia, verbena, gomphrena, ageratum, and statice. For orange annuals try marigolds, gaillardia, gerbera, nasturtium, or zinnia.
Perennial flowers in blue-purple include lavender, amsonia, bellflower, bachelor's button, coneflower, salvia, balloon flower, Russian sage, sage, iris, false indigo, and many more.
For orange perennials try daylilies, coreopsis, yarrow, butterfly weed, or heliopsis. Another interesting combination might be heliotrope with its deep purple flower clusters next to a bright orange coreopsis.
Consider Illini-colored vines for vertical interest. Clematis, wisteria, and passion flower come in many shades of blue. Orange options include black-eyed Susan vine, native honeysuckles, and trumpet vines.
Fall offers many options for the blue and orange garden. Asters and mums both come in many shades of each color. In fact, fall flower colors are typically more deep orange-red and thus work perfectly.
Obviously, there are many more options than Rhonda's listed here. "I could easily add flowering shrubs such as orange or purple flowering azalea." "And, don't forget foliage colors such as blue hosta and gold flame spirea with red-orange spring and fall leaves." Make it simple and choose the right plant for the right place.
Rhonda has blue and orange scattered about her gardens. She especially enjoys her deep blue ceramic pots planted with a green spike for height and orange calibrachoa for the container's fillers and spillers.
For more information on this or other horticultural issues, contact your local Extension office by visiting www.extension.illinois.edu.
MEET THE AUTHOR
As horticulture educator, Rhonda Ferree inspired citizens in local communities to grow their own food and improve their home landscapes. She focused on high quality, impactful programs that taught homeowners how to create energy-efficient landscapes using sustainable practices that increase property values and help the environment.
After 30 years with University of Illinois Extension, Rhonda retired in 2018. She continues to share her passion for horticulture related topics as “Retro Rhonda” on social media.
ABOUT THE BLOG
ILRiverHort is a blog that helps people connect to nature and grow.