Sedum Rhodiola rosea

A garden needs visual variety and I hope we show some of that on Gardeners Tips. I know the senses we tend to focus on are sight, taste and smell but hearing and touching have their place.

Seeing Your Garden

• Colour is often the most striking way our sight is stimulated but take time to consider and inspect the subtle variations you can achieve from leaves, barks and young shoots as well as flowers.
• If you like topiary you will understand the impact of form and structure in your garden. Structural design can impart the essence of a gardens formality, informality or sense of fun by the features chosen and the way they are implemented.
• The Form some plants take is also important and often the leaf or petal arrangements can be very attractive in their own right – Mother Nature knows what she is doing.
• Texture can be seen and felt and soft grasses can complement furry leaves.

• Abundance and repetition can be an attraction to shape and form as with this fern above. Small young plants are supporting acts for more mature specimens.
• Patterns, either man made or natural, can add distinction to your garden. Look at professional gardens when you visit for ideas.
• Geometric precision with water features and pathways may help focus on the plants you wish to display.  A standard rose in a solitary circular bed can look very distinguished.
• From Algae to giant Redwood trees there is a range of sizes to fit all circumstances. I do not suggest you grow both of these extremes in a garden but you can profitably vary the height of your plantings and you do not need to always put high plants at the back.

Colour and texture can go together if the right plants are selected.