Natural glow
"It is the colour closest to light. In its utmost purity it always implies the nature of brightness and has a cheerful, serene, gently stimulating character. Hence, experience teaches us that yellow makes a thoroughly warm and comforting impression. With yellow the eye rejoices, the heart expands, the spirit is cheered and we immediately feel warmed. Many people feel an inclination to laugh when looking through a yellow glass." -
Johann von Goethe, Theory Of Colors, 1840
Ways with yellow flowers
Attract attention
The most visible of all the colours, yellow is the first the human eye picks up. Advertisers exploit this everyday. Yellow always gets noticed. It may be the last colour you will want to plant along an ugly fence, but the first to highlight your most beautiful garden seat, or to welcome guests to the front door.
Light up the shade
Like stars glowing on a dark night, yellow flowers really stand out in shade. There are many yellow flowered plants that will bloom in part shade, e.g. clivia, yellow foxglove, corydalis. Also yellow variegated plants, such as ligularia and hosta are very useful for brightening a dull corner.
Plant yellow flowers for picking
While bright yellow walls have been shown to make babies cry and grownups rage, yellow accents have quite the reverse effect. A vase of yellow flowers is the surest shade to brighten a room. Spring brings daffodils and forsythia for picking. For summer and autumn arrangements, plant yellow roses, lilies, gladioli, dahlias and daisies.
Go serene with green
A monochromatic yellow garden bearing only yellow flowers balanced with plenty of green foliage can be very restful, especially if various shades of yellow are used. But just as too much sun can dazzle us, too much intense yellow can be overpowering, or make a garden look flat and lifeless. Use yellow as accents, balanced with plenty of green.
Brighten dull days
Yellow is the most cheerful of the spectrum. It calls to mind a bright, sunny day. Look for yellow flowers which bloom in winter and early spring; forsythia, daffodil, tulip, polyanthus, pansy, kowhai, witch hazel.
Contrast with blue and violet
If two coloured lights shone together make white, they are what's known as complementary colours. Yellow's complementary colour lies between blue and violet on the colour wheel. A picture (or garden) with the ratio one-third violet to two-thirds yellow is one oft-touted recipe for success.
6-Jan-2023
From top: Banksia 'Lemon Delicious', Clivia, Lachenalia, Helenium
Plants for . . .
