Plant Combinations

I like to use grey-leaved plants to bring out the color in yellow, blue and purple flowers. Here Stachys byzantina (Lambs' ears), and Artemesia 'Silver King', frame the daylily Hemerocallis flava, Geranium 'Brookside' and purple pansies, all nestled around a little stone owl. In some lights the Geranium is more blue than purple.

 More grey leaves, including Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian sage), and Nepeta 'Walker's Low' (catmint) both of which make wonderful combinations with greens and brighter flowers during the summer.

Japanese iris (will have purple flowers later), Adiantum podatum (Maidenhair fern), and Galium odoratum (Sweet woodruff) around a terracotta sculpture of St. Fiacre, the patron saint of gardening.
Here the different bright greens and textures make a great combination for part shade. All these plants came from my garden in New England and they have prospered in their new soil. I am hoping the ferns will spread in time because they are particularly beautiful as a groundcover.