Synopsis
Shows how to use various shades of the same color throughout a garden in order to create a unified design, and suggests sample plantings
Reviews
Harper ( Perennials ) approaches gardening here in terms of color, and she challenges readers to entrust themselves to "the spirit of experiment." She observes that gardens tend to fall into two general categories: the formally concerned, and the plant-obsessed. "The challenge lies in achieving unity while still including sufficient different plants, pleasingly combined, to make the garden interesting." She revisits color theory (from neutral to primary shades), and outlines the usefulness of "echoing" as a horticultural strategy: yellow accents on a purple iris can, for instance, be echoed by the full blaze of a yellow daylily. The writer also explores the uses of foliage in populating a chromatic landscape, varying it, and serving as a "blender" or a founder of "color infrastructure." Details taken from Harper's 40 years of experience, and from her garden, help to illustrate her broad points and will serve the uses of many gardeners. Garden Book Club main selection; Organic Gardening Book Club alternate .
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Once a gardener has developed expertise in the culture of plants, attention might shift to learning about color. Harper explains her concept of how to arrange harmonious hues within a garden's overall form by calling on elements and principles of designtexture and color, contrast and variety, and rhythm and repetition. Fundamental aspects of color theory and the use of the color wheel as a reference tool are explained, and Harper also offers some spirited thoughts on the difficulties faced when one attempts to describe colors. Moreover, skilled gardeners will be able to get design tips for almost any situation, from among hundreds of knowledgeable references to trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs, and annuals. Lovely photographs by the author illuminate countless examples of subtle and visually daring plant combinations. Alice Joyce
Horticulturist/photographer Harper (Designing with Perennials, Macmillan, 1991) writes of the echo approach to establishing color combinations with plants in the home landscape. For Harper, this is simply the repetition of different tints of a color to create an interesting garden that has unity and charm. Outstanding photos illustrate color echoes, and the text clearly explains their development to create distinctive gardens. Harper's experience with plants and knowledge of workable combinations is valuable for the reader, and her book will stimulate gardeners to think about combining plants in new ways to achieve a garden that is special and meaningful. For popular gardening collections. [Garden Book Club main selection; Organic Gardening Book Club alternate selection.]-Dale Luchsinger, Athens Area Technical Inst., Ga.
--Dale Luchsinger, Athens Area Technical Inst., Ga.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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