Follow Us!
† Requires Javascript
Copyright © 1997-2009 Demand Media. All rights reserved.
|
| Member | Message |
|---|---|
 |
Posted: Jun/04/2009 1:50 PM PST
OK - I need some tips - It is late Spring/early summer in zone 5 here in upstate NY. My front yard has purple cranesbill, purple tradescantia (spiderwort), purple bearded iris (some with white globes) purple catmint and purple chives. I have plenty of other colors later in the year, but what would start blooming May-ish up here that ISN"T PURPLE??!! PS I did have snowdrop (I think) bulbs that threw some white for a week or two, and snow-in-summer that has already bloomee, and I have gazanias in a patch, and God bless the variety of coral bells I put in last year... I have decided to break down and buy some yellow or 'chocolate' iris - I don't know if that is what it is called, but that is what it looks like in other people's yards! Thanks! |
 |
Posted: Jun/04/2009 6:56 PM PST
Anything in the yellow/orange/yellowy green color span would set it off nicely as those are opposites on the color wheel. Adding, pink, blues or whites would offer companion colors, and the white would POP. Yellow iris would be a good choice, peonies, maybe white or pink. That's all I can think of for now. Hope it helps. |
 |
Posted: Jun/04/2009 9:18 PM PST
Some different colored iris would help break it up, but my iris dont always bloom at the same time. I wish I could offer some advise, but you are in a different zone so I dont know. I am thinking of what blooms here when the iris are blooming. Daffodils, verbena, azaleas.....how about some foliage plants? A white or silver foliage with all the purple would be smashing. Dusty Miller comes to mind. I like Sass' idea of pinks and blues. What about snapdragons or pansies? |
 |
Posted: Jun/04/2009 11:51 PM PST
My irises have already bloomed here and gone to seed, but I'm far enough south of you that they might bloom at the right time for you. My hollyhocks are back from last year and starting to bloom pink--they get only morning sun so if you had a sunny site they might well do the trick for you. A columbine here is just finishing blooming, but again, it's in a shady site--adjusting for more sun might have it blooming for you. |
 |
Posted: Jun/05/2009 3:56 AM PST
I would think that loads of yellow pansies would be gorgeous. Down here we plant pansies in October and they are in full flush in May. I don't know how you'd do it in NY except buy them blooming and plant them out. They would last until it gets really, really hot. I have kept some going all through summer where they got a little shade from nearby shrubs, and I deadheaded everyday. |
|
|
Posted: Jun/05/2009 5:08 AM PST
Thanks everyone - I do have peonies, but they are slow to bloom and the pink ones are just starting. I like the idea of pansies - we do get them in early spring in the garden centers up here - don't know if they would overwinter. And I like the idea of foliage plants - maybe artemisia?? Isn't that silver and feathery? Thanks again! |
 |
Posted: Jun/05/2009 5:17 AM PST
Purple is my favorite color so I don't mind it, but I noticed several years ago that my first wave is purple crocus and then mostly yellows and then purple again. A neighbor had some all white columbine by their purple ones and that really popped nicely. Since you're in zone 5 maybe you could plant some violets or yellow johnny-jump-ups. Some of both have come back year after year for me and I'm in zone 5, too. |
|
|
Posted: Jun/05/2009 12:22 PM PST
Yes, the artemesia would be nice. I have that, but it has a tendency to get away from you if you're not careful. It's easy to pull, though. I've got some about everywhere. It does make a nice splash. |
|
|
Posted: Jun/07/2009 8:03 AM PST
I am posting pictures because mountainsprite asked about the cranesbill and I can't post pictures into my profile for some reason... Attachments:   |
|
|
Posted: Jun/08/2009 2:01 AM PST
The flower looks like one that I have that a friend gave me. She called it a wild geranium, but mine sure doesn't mound like that one. Boy, that would be great! |
† Requires Javascript
Copyright © 1997-2009 Demand Media. All rights reserved.
