Plant foliage brings drama and structure to the
garden with colour, shape, and texture all its own.
Bright, cheerful flowers may have beauty-pageant appeal
that gets noticed by passers-by, but where would all
those pretty floral faces be without the stalwart
presence of foliage? Every garden benefits from an
inspired selection of plants chosen for the beauty of
their leaves, and the harmony their presence brings to
the entire landscape. Organized by colour and texture,
each chapter in Nancy Ondra's eye-opening new guide
illustrates the features and requirements of dozens of
plants, all chosen for the unique appeal of their
leaves. Colours range from brilliant chartreuse to
stunning silver to dusky, moody maroon. Surfaces can be
rough or smooth, velvety or prickly, and edges can be
scalloped, smooth, or saw-toothed. With the stunning
range of colour and texture represented in Rob
Cardillo's rich photography, it's easy to see how much
season-long interest foliage can add to a garden. In
addition to identifying and discussing beautiful plant
possibilities, Ondra draws on her many years of
gardening experience to present vivid plant combinations
that work together to enhance and extend garden colour.
Knowing how and where to use foliage to complement
flowers and grasses is as important as understanding the
plants themselves. Flowers come and go, weather can kill
blooms prematurely or prevent them from ever appearing,
but sturdy, reliable foliage can be the gardener's
salvation, year after year.
|
|