“When the world wearies and society fails to satisfy, there is always the garden”. – Minnie Aumonier the artist, costume designer, poet, and writer wrote back in the late 1900’s.
I think it is so appropriate for the times we are living in now. To have something to look forward is important to all of us so let me share with you about some future garden trends that I learned about in a webinar from a well-known plant supplier. Some of these are quite interesting and could really make a difference in the look of your garden in the future. These six gardening trends will focus on plants, shrubs and trees found in our area.
Garden of Abundance trend – this design adds fruits and vegetables into your garden with different varieties of perennial plants. Improving your ground soil health is the key in this garden to attract pollinators, birds, and wildlife. All plants are planted into the ground instead of raised garden beds because you have taken the time to improve the ground soil. It has a very free, natural look to it. Plants that are great to add into the Garden of Abundance are a fig tree, kiwi vine and echinacea (otherwise known as coneflowers).
Dark Meets Light gardening trend – This style is about contrast, where you plant plants that have dark foliage with light blooms or white or light grey leaves with dark blooms. This look can be created in a large pot by your front door or throughout your garden. Another design that is very similar to this is a moon garden that I mentioned in a previous article. You plant light colored leafed plants and at night, they give off a glow in the moon light. Plants that can be added to your garden to get this look are a crape myrtle tree, dark leafed heuchera (common name coral bells) or dahlias.
Dressed Up Bohemian trend – This design adds lots of texture plants (larger and smaller leafed plants planted together), in warm colors like bright green, yellow with red, orange, or yellow blooms and usually has a focal point plant or tree to draw your eye to it somewhere in the garden. It has a relaxed style about it, and sometimes you can add plants to create an ombre effect (having colors blend into each other either dark to light or light to dark) in the garden or in pots. Some plants to add into your garden to create this look are a weeping Japanese maple, variegated Japanese Aralia or different types of sedums (taller and ground cover varieties).
Architectural Simplicity trend – This design has been inspired by Greek, Roman and European styles. It is a formal style with lots of blooms using very few types of plants and lots of repetition. Colors are generally green and white, and topiaries are encouraged. Plants to add to create this style are Falsespray false Cypress, compact Japanese holly (in lieu of boxwoods) and variegated sedge grasses.
Upscale relaxed trend – This design can help you cover up large areas of concrete wall or wooden fences to create an outdoor room as an extension of your house. Nice outdoor furniture and larger plants are used to give the feeling like you are on vacation. Hardy schefflera (pronounce shef-lera) and hibiscus are plants to add to create this style and in summer, larger houseplants can be moved outside to create more of a jungle feel in your garden.
Climate Appropriate trend – In our ever-changing climate, this is a particularly appropriate design. Planting plants that can handle extreme temperature and water needs may include some native plants, but these may not always do well so try planting plants that will last over time. Plants that originally came from Australia and New Zealand work well in this type of garden design. Plants like yucca, potentilla, viburnum, day lilies, nine bark and Gaura (pronounce go-ra) work well.
As you can see, these are very varied designs, and you can choose one to suit your personality and how much time you have to maintain it. If any of these garden trends sound right for you but you don’t know how to get started, give me a call. I am happy to give you design and plant ideas (206) 915-0585 (or email is great too at jenny@gardencoachingsolutions.com). Happy Gardening in 2022!