21/09/2024
🌿 Designing an Award-Winning Eco Oasis: Part 2 - Colour & Contrast 🎨
In this phase of the Eco Oasis Garden, I created a calming canvas with a mostly monochrome base palette of blue-grey paving and slate chippings. This neutral backdrop allowed for pops of vibrancy, with Corten steel water troughs and the rill adding interest and drawing the eye to key areas. The muted greys and charred black timber frame highlight the lush greens of hedging and foliage, allowing nature to really stand out.
For the flowers, I centred the palette around three main colours: blue, yellow-orange, and lime green. The yellow-orange stems of Deschampsia grasses were placed first, their stems and seed heads guiding the eye through the garden. I focused on how the eye moves, seeking repetition of shape and colour to create a natural flow.
Next came clusters of blue Nepeta, working harmoniously with the Deschampsia. I was careful to position them in front, behind, and beside the grasses to keep the scene feeling natural. Finally, lime green Alchemilla tied it all together, enhancing the contrast between the other two colours. These are Triadic colours on the colour wheel, forming a pleasing balance.
Complementary plants like Astrantia Burgundy Major paired well with the grasses, while Geranium Brookside added a soft contrast to the Alchemilla, and Geum Mai Tai added a layer of orangey peach at ground level.
The main goal was to add warmth and a quiet energy to the design. What do you think, did it work?
In Part 3, I’ll explain how the shapes and forms of the plants work together to create impact and keep the viewers interest. 🍀
Paving
Corten
Slate mulch
Plants
