The title of this month’s GBFD post says it all really. When I went into the garden to photograph foliage this morning I thought it might be difficult this month to take images that didn’t feature flowers rather than foliage. But then as I walked around I was reminded why I had wanted to start GBFD; Foliage is EVERYTHING in a garden. In some seasons it might be all there is, but when it is spring and the garden shouts with colour and tells me it is truly spring it is the foliage that makes the blooms sing in a harmonious way.
The garden is full of colour, maybe more colour than at any other time of year; yet without the foliage the garden would be nothing!
The structure of the formal garden works all year. Now supporting the white tulips in the front two beds
Structure, form and shades of green are enough to create a beautiful garden
Box needing to be pruned give a slightly wild feel; the pale green new foliage is too lovely for me to want to remove it
The slope is green in a different way; Stipa tenuissima waves in the wind
Silver foliage is a strong part of my Mediterranean garden, the bright spring light makes the silver leaves shimmer and also make a wonderful contrast to Tulip Negrita.
Various Artemisia and other silver foliage plants
Sedum Purple Emperor glows against a santolina
The purple and almost jade foliage of the Sedum is stunning when it is new
Sedum Matrona has pink edges to its leaves which at present are an attraction to many snails
Festuca glauca highlights the deep purple of Heuchera ‘Obsidion’
The bright spring light bleaches the true deep colour of the Heuchera
Heuchera ‘Patty’s Plum’
Remember sometimes to turn your images into tones of grey to help you understand the forms and texture that your plants are creating.
Some large round leaves would be a good addition here.
I think the form of the foliage here, works well with strappy Iris in the foreground, with Cotinus, santolina and Phlomis and a tall stand of Cerinthe in the background.
New foliage on a Mahonia
There is of course the pattern and colour you enjoy only when getting close.
A lot of new foliage is pink or red and not green. I think this is just amazing
and the foliage of wild lupin is a wonderful pattern
Nandina domestica’s new foliage is as colourful as any flower
Hedges are very important for the form and texture they provide in the garden, the back of my garden Has Photinia, giving orangey-red new foliage which emphasises the colour of Tulips Brown Sugar and gives a good background to the rest of the garden always.
The large tree on the left is a White Mulberry
Please feel free to use GBFD in your own way; to maybe highlight one plant that is making an impact this month in your garden or to show the combinations that work for you. Please post and add a link to your comment. I really look forward to seeing what is happening in other gardens. I hope you are enjoying spring as much as I am.
Creating my own garden of the Hesperides 