Our World is Full of Contrasts

Where would we be without contrasts in our world. Black and white...sweet and sour...tall and short...It would be a pretty boring world if everything was the same. Oh, how I fretted about buying the orange tulip bulbs. Would they blend in with the rest of my colors? How would they look with the red mulch as a background?Well, I threw caution to the wind and bought them. I needn't have worried...they fit right in. My little front garden is full of pinks and purples. The red lilies were here when I came here. I forgot about them, when I bought the knockout roses in a light pink. Would I have to move the lilies...no I just left them there and they bloomed right along beside the pink flowers. The knockouts were taking a rest and these lilies started to bloom...sharing the stage with the rest of the colors.

There are contrasts in the trees and shrubbery that we have around our gardens. The delicate blooms on the redbud tree in the spring. It's one of my favorite trees and grows at the edge of the woods. Very dainty blossoms in a pretty shade of rose.

Then we have the bright and blousy knockouts. A shorter shrub with sturdy flowers. In my hanging baskets I mix a vine of Mandevilla and Million Bells. They are both in the same color and really not to my liking...no contrast except in the size of the leaves. I need a paler color there to mix with the bright pinks. Live and learn...next year I will change that. We gardeners are always thinking about next year...that's what makes gardening so interesting...always having something to look forward to.

Speaking of leaves...I love the contrast of leaves too in my garden. The fuzzy, soft leaves of my Lamb's Ears are one of my favorite. I'm not particularly fond of their flowers, but I can cut these off, when they look too ragged. I use the leaves in my artwork..They are the best leaves for stamping with paint. I just put them in paint and press on paper...they leave the most interesting imprint. Of course I couldn't leave out my stalwart of the garden...the hosta. I have them in all sizes and colors. They do so well along my foundation and the ones in the woods are huge.....as big as bushel baskets. Now there's a leaf for you. The tall flowers of the hosta are blooming right now. Some people cut them off, but I tend to leave them. I figure that the plant has reached it's goal, by sending up a flower...why not let it have it's ta da moment.

I've given my take on contrasts in the garden. Size of leaves, flowers, textures, growth habits, colors...they are all there in my gardens.
I learned throughout my years in the Church that there were two contrasting gardens in the Bible. The Garden of Eden and Gethsemane. Eden was delightful and perfect; Gethsemane was dark and foreboding. I'll continue on with my little garden of contrasts. Life is full of contrasts...black and white, sweet and sour, hot and cold..What an interesting life we can have..if we embrace all of the world's contrasts.

Balisha