This post, “Cool Colors” was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana
I have always preferred the “cool” colors on a color wheel. The greens, blues, violets. This is reflected in my garden. I don’t know if it is in response to gardening in a hot, humid climate or not, but those colors all seem to make the summer garden seem cooler. While I love flowers, foliage is just as important. That is one of the reasons I love hostas and ferns. This hosta is Blue Cadet. The blue hostas are not known to do well in the hot, humid South, but this one has been successful for me. It keeps its blue tinge pretty much all summer long. I do keep it in the shady areas where it may get only a few hours of early morning sun, and it stays well-watered.
This bougainvillea was obtained from a neighbor who moved and couldn’t take this large plant with her. It, too, is a “cool” color. This is the best it has looked since I got it in late 2005. It sits in front of an azalea border, and the green background really makes the fuchsia color pop. This is a bright color, but still lends a cooling feeling to that area of the garden.
“Hot: colors are present in my garden, but they have been used more to complement a surrounding area rather than as a personal preference for those colors. Even when reds or yellows are in the garden, I always have some blue or purple to tone them down. I love to look at “hot” tropical gardens. They can be very striking, but for my home garden, I’ll have to stick with the “cool” colors.
Always Growing 
jodi said,
April 29, 2008 at 6:05 am
Wonderful colours and a perfect explanation for doing what you do, Jan. The main thing is to plant what YOU like in your garden…I’m the same way, there are things I like in others gardens but don’t choose for my own planting circus. 😉
Brenda Kula said,
April 29, 2008 at 8:22 am
My hostas have holes in the leaves. Is that from slugs? I so love the foliage plants, and am very fond of my hostas. Would you email me on the best way to handle this, if you don’t miind. Here my hostas are coming up beautifully, and the leaves are getting holes in them chewed from, I’m assuming, slugs. Those ugly creatures. Brenda
Jan said,
April 29, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Jodi, I’m glad to see someone else agreeing with me. There are no “garden police” thank goodness, so everyone can please themselves. After all it is our gardens, our money, and our time.
Brenda, I hope you have gotten my email by now. Hostas are too pretty to be eaten by slugs.