Colors are undoubtedly the most dynamic design feature in creating a garden. And plants are all in all the easiest and most common aspect where color and variation can be developed and modified.

However, for countless gardeners and landscapers in their search for the perfect color combinations, there is another part to plants that is often forgotten as a design factor. And that would be the contrast of the many wonderful and different textures of plants. In particular and for the intent of this specific article, green plants.

Green plants don't just serve as a color element like any other color. They can also be applied as a neutral transitional color that connects other aspects and colors to one another. Or put differently, as a filler or where one zone of the garden transitions to the next. Keep in mind that natural transition is pretty important in designing a landscape.

I was reminded not too long ago as I talked with a customer of how many people really overlook green as being a color design principle in garden design.

As we looked at her project I pointed out that we now had four colors in her landscape project and that we needed to repeat them throughout the design to form a little bit of balance. Remember, balance and repetition are principles of designing gardens. She arguably stated that we only had three colors in her design.

I knew exactly what she was saying. Green isn't actually a color. It's just the device that holds the real colored parts in place.

Now if we understood green as just being a neutral medium, I could go along with this. However, as a design professional, I tend to view it in a much different way. There are ever so many shades of green. Each can hold many varying textures that can form such fascinating contrasts to design with.

Some of the most extraordinary and lush gardens I've ever seen have only displayed this solitary color in many variations. Light greens, dark greens, yellow greens, etc. And I haven't even made mention of texture here. Even the same shade of green in assorted textures creates a cool contrast for landscape designing purposes.

Try and envision the overgrowth and beauty of a dark jungle. Their beauty and contrast are all created by the various kinds of shade and texture and not vivid colors. Shady landscaping ideas that mimic a deep forest or jungle are in fact beautiful just by themselves.

Keep this in mind when figuring out your next garden. Just as one instance, a diversity of Hostas, Ferns, and Fountain Grasses can form a very memorable and eye catching collection using the color green.

And yes….., green is a color.

Steve Boulden