White flowers have a cooling effect on hot summer days while on the other hand they light up a dull winter days. When other colour flowers tend to vanish in the darkness, whites light up the night and gleam in the moonlight. It is worth noting that white can be present in every month of the year, for example appearing as beacons in dreary January gardens and as punctuation marks in colour-filled July gardens.

Worthy of a home in any garden is the Phlox paniculata Snow Queen? as it lingers with pure white flowers until early autumn, long after other strong coloured flowers have retreated. Most country gardens are perfumed with the regal lily, Lilium regale. It?s tall, fragrant white trumpet shaped flowers have religious connotations and often adorn church alters. I get great flowering value from the Malva alba plants in my own garden. They are prolific flowering perennial plants. A joy to behold! The white or pale pink forms of Astilbe ardensii are particularly effective near ponds and streams. Their featherlike flowers evoke feelings of restfulness.

If your preference is for white flowering shrubs I would advise you to make room in your garden for Viburnum plicatum ?Maresii? and Hydrangea ?Annabelle?. They are favourites of mine. I know that you will get great pleasure from their beauty, I promise. For tall plants with scent and colour value I love the white lilac bush Syringa Mme. Lemoine and the Philadelphus Belle Etoile. I think no perfume can surpass that of the low growing Sarcacocca humilis. Icy but not cold would be an apt description of the climbing plant combination of Rosa Iceberg and Rosa Felecite Perpetue.

Veering away from flowers but staying with the colour white, I would highly recommend the snow white barked Betula utilis jacquemontii tree. To my mind this majestic tree is a living piece of sculpture.

As with family and business partnerships, plant partners are also an integral part of nature. Silver and grey foliage plants look well alone or as companions for pinks and blues. They create the effect of shimmering light in the garden. Yellows and whites make up refreshing partnerships. They bring ?sunshine? to the garden on dull weather days. A feeling of spaciousness can be achieved in the garden by combining whites and pale pinks. They have a simple appeal. Blue shades are given a clarity when partnered with whites. One of the finest spring sights is that of fresh blues combined with white in a woodland setting. Consider bluebells and snowdrops or nicer still, forget-me-nots punctuated with dwarf white tulips.

It is said that ?beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder? and though in this article I am encouraging the use of white in the garden I am also very aware that you, the reader, may have preferences for other colours and that your mood may be influenced by other shades. Plant what you yourself are comfortable with and create a garden environment that puts you at ease. It will be your garden, your refuge.

Happy Gardening!

Anne.

Garden Checklist

• Divide perennials.

• Pot up rooted cuttings.

• Sow summer bedding plant seeds.

• Sow seed potatoes.

• Prune autumn/winter flowering shrubs.

Send your queries to Anne at Garden Gate,

Kilkenny Advertiser, 63 High Street, Kilkenny.

or via email to gardengate@kilkennyadvertiser.ie

source : www.kilkennyadvertiser.ie