Creating a beautiful garden or patio requires a bit of planning so that no feature is overlooked while all the components work together, whether it be a water feature, koi pond, or any other water feature. Using flowers and plants to frame and accent outdoor decorations will create a harmonized area that is also easy on the eye. There are many options for combining or complementing a font, but here are some tips to get you started.
Outdoor patios or pool areas that use marble, concrete, stone, and tile can appear harsh and uninviting. Potted plants and ferns can be placed in corners, on end tables, and along the edge of a pool or walkway to add some color without detracting from the classic look you want to achieve. Plants and ferns will add a luscious green against dull stone or plain concrete. Likewise, if you have a colored tile fountain, you certainly don’t want to draw attention away from it. Stick with greens again by using broadleaf plants, ivy, and trailing juniper. Ivy complements most wall-mounted fountains, but be careful lest vines interfere with the fountain’s operation. Pruning back the ivy will keep the vines in check as they meander.
Small freestanding fountains or birdbaths are often simpler. Instead of combining them with tall grasses and potted plants, use colorful flowers that grow up to half the size of the fountain. Thus, the fountain will stand out among the flowers, but it will hardly seem simple surrounded by daisies, peonies, forget-me-nots or geraniums. Check your local nursery for some ideas, and larger flowering shrubs can be used as long as they don’t dwarf or choke the source. Invite wildlife into your garden with Snow Day Surprise, gardenia bushes, butterfly bushes, hydrangeas, and lilacs. And don’t forget that lilacs come in a variety of colors.
The most important thing to remember is to decorate with plants and flowers that will thrive in the weather conditions. Choose foliage that blooms in the spring, some in the summer, and some in the fall to keep your garden colorful longer. Warm colors like orange, red, pink, and yellow go together very well. Green, blue, and purple are considered cool colors. So, to make a blue and yellow tile fountain pop, surround it with pinks, reds, and purples. White and yellow daisies will soften a red brick fountain, while they may not do much for a concrete water feature.
In the end, you’ll want a place where you can socialize with friends or relax by yourself, so don’t sacrifice your own preferences for a color scheme. Be sure to include some of your favorite flowers or plants for a garden or patio you’ll love.
