"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Beautiful, like a rainbow.

When I see a rainbow or think of a rainbow, this line from Cyndi Lauper's song "True Colors" from 1986 always seems to come to my mind. A pretty song to represent such a beautiful piece of art from nature. Rebecca from Prefer to be In the Garden asked us to share rainbows from our gardens to help brighten up winter.
Just looking back through my Spring and Summer garden pictures made me feel warm and brightened my day. I think lots of us like to look back at sunny day pictures, part of the fun for me is remembering flowers I'd forgotten about and made me more anxious to see them return.
The interesting part of putting this rainbow together for me is that I thought I'd have trouble finding orange flowers, and have no problem with purple flowers. It ended up being the opposite. I used to think orange clashed too much with most colors. But once while shopping in a nursery I overheard some women and one discussing how certain colors of flowers "didn't go together". The other woman said that they are all part of nature so of course they all go together. While I don't personally think every color combination goes together it did open my eyes a bit about being less critical of orange and combining it with colors I never thought it "matched".

Here is my rainbow:

Monarda 'Jacobe Cline'

Red Breadseed Poppy



Geum 'Fire Lake'

Zinnia 'Apricot Blush'

Leopard's Bane

Sunflower

Hosta

Zinnia 'Green Envy'

Hydrangea 'Nikko Blue'

Salvia 'Black and Blue'

Muscari

Clematis 'Jackmanii superba'

Here is Cyndi Lauper singing "True Colors" in the video below:



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40 comments:

  1. What a feast for the eyes! I'm glad you joined in on this, Catherine. I plan to as well, though perhaps not for a day or so...

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  2. Gorgeous rainbow post, Catherine. I personally love orange, but had a difficult time finding blue when I did a similar rainbow challenge last September. :) Cyndi's song was a great blast from the past, too!

    I have been trying to decide which Monarda to add this year, and you've seriously tipped the scales in favor of Jacob Kline.

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  3. Beautiful post Catherine, what a stunning array of blooms. I love Cyndi Lauper's 'True Colours', thanks for posting the video and for participating! :) ~Rebecca

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  4. Catherine~~ No one and I repeat, no one can be in a bad mood after scrolling through your photos! Stunning, beautiful, cheery, I can almost feel sunlight on my skin and a subtle floral scent in the air. Birds are chirping and a light breeze awakes the tinkle of the wind chime.

    Interestingly I must say that of all your photos, the one that most affected me was the hosta leaf. Green. Well, maybe not. Your Monarda with the weeping willow background, luscious. Okay, they're all good photos.

    You know what I do? When I'm leaving my computer for a little while, I'll start a slide show of my summer photos and let it run while the virus scanner does its thing. This way, whenever I happen into close proximity of the computer, summer greets me at gentle intervals. Great therapy, as are your photos!

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  5. Yay..super lovely..super beautiful post!! Gorgeous array! Love True Colors too!
    Kiki~

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  6. Is our minds on the same frequency or what. I just posted a rainbow posting too. LOL!

    Your poppy is such a pretty red one. The orange geum is pretty too.I had a hard time since I have very few oranges and yellows. The green envy zinnia is such a contrast from what you think in a bloom. I like that. Have you seen the green coneflowers?

    You do have all of the colors of the rainbow in your garden. All this searching for colors really brightens a day.

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  7. What a gorgeous rainbow of colors! You are a gardener extraordinaire. And photographer to boot! Thanks for such a cheery post.

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  8. These seriously can't be all blooming in your garden right now. I must live in the wrong place. All I have are is a vase inside with a splash of color. Love your rainbow....

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  9. What wonderful reminders of warm weather ahead!

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  10. Fabulous photos, and the colours are so beautiful! I can't even pick a favourite - they are all spectacular!

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  11. What a great idea, and your photos are beautiful as always! I need to try bee balm this year. I always admire it in your posts.

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  12. You aren't making my longing for spring any easier here...lol These are beautiful photos Catherine!! It did lift my spirit on this breezy rainy day..

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  13. Catherine
    Lovely lovely photos of beautiful flowes.

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  14. What a wonderful rainbow Catherine. Love the purple of the Jackamanii..great. I will have to look through all my photos to come up with a rainbow....not sure what color I will be deficient in.
    I think of 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' when I think of Cyndi Lauper.

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  15. Such joy to click on your post this rainy/stormy day in GA. These are some beautiful selections. We have the red bee balm and love it when the hummers land on it and it sways back and forth! Seeing your clear, crisp photos makes me almost be able to smell some of these lovelies! Enjoy the week ahead.

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  16. Gorgeous flowers and photos, Catherine. And to think you have all that to enjoy in your garden. Lucky lady! Seriously, I think you must host a SAGBUTT so we can see this beautiful garden in person!

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  17. They are all so gorgeous...
    of COURSE they all go together beautifully in a garden...all colors!
    Good grief, who would be so conceited as to question God's artistry? ha

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  18. I loved the pictures of the sunflower and green zinnia!

    I agree, this is a good time of year for a rainbow post.

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  19. Hello Catherine,

    I love your rainbow of flowers. The muscari is my favorite. I remember seeing large swaths of it when we visited Leeds Castle in England and it was so beautiful.

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  20. Beautiful rainbow, Catherine! You are very artistic and your garden is a reflection of your artistry. :-)

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  21. Nope, can't imagine you having trouble finding any color of flower in your garden. There is no doubt in my mind that you are a flower lover my dear and try as you might color snobbery is just not in your make-up.

    Don't you just love my presumptions? LOL

    Catherine you have such a wonderful garden and your rainbow was beautifully done here. A lovely reminder of the things to come which is most welcomed on another rainy day. :-)

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  22. I love the idea of a rainbow post ~ you have so many great pictures, I don't know how you picked just a few. I love the green zinnia and blue hydrangea especially but they are all awesome.

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  23. Catherine, You have really captured the magic of a rainbow... vibrant colors! Beautiful flower photography... they jump right off the screen! I love scrolling up and down fast and they all blend in a band of rainbow colors!! Brava! ;>) Carol

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  24. Hello
    beautiful flowers,We had snow again........I'm waiting for spring....your pictures to sweeten the waiting time...greetings from Sandra

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  25. True colours... beautiful.. like a rainbow...
    We're still got cold weather, today only 12 degrees and spring seems real far away / gittan

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  26. What a fantastic pick-me-up for a wet, grey Monday morning Catheine ...thank you, I feel so much brighter in mood now!

    I love that Salvia 'black and blue'. My aim is to get more colours in my garden this year - we inherited a very nice line in all shades of green, but it's definitely time to put our mark on the garden ...and you've inspired me!

    I loved the Cindy Lauper video too. Last-Born often sings 'True Colours', so it's guaranteed to make me smile :)

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  27. Hi Catherine

    this is a gorgeous rainbow. The hydrangea I adore because it takes me home and the green zinnia because I have never seen it before.

    Happy days

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  28. Dear Catherine, I thought this posting to be so imaginatively presented and with so many covetable plants. I love the Zinnia 'Green Envy' and would certainly find a place for that in my own garden.

    Thank you for your comment on my posting, to which I have replied, and for becoming a 'Follower'.

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  29. Catherine,
    Rainbows are such a treasured painting by nature. You have captured the magic just beautifully, Catherine. I had to chuckle over your thoughts on the color orange. I am always surprised by how many people dislike the color. I can't seem to get enough of it. Funny how what is so appealing to some is repelling for others. Your orange Geum is just lovely.

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  30. Such a beautiful rainbow of colors from your gardens Catherine. I always love seeing what you have growing and blooming. I love that song by Cyndi Lauper, one of my favorites.

    Have a great week.

    FlowerLady

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  31. Catherin this is so pretty to see ! Thank you : )
    I absolutely love your monarda .. I can't seem to get mine to that stiking stage .. they need a lot more sun I am thinking .. I do have Petite Delight and it is a pretty little thing .. I love the smell of Bee Balm : )

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  32. I love the red breadseed; I was just on Flower Hill Farms site asking Carol to ID her poppies for me - very similar! I'm also a big fan of Green Envy. Well done!

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  33. Beautiful flowers! Cindy is one of my faves, she's so cute.

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  34. I love your photos in this entry, Catherine! You do a great job both growing flowers and photographing them! Our Botanical Center is having a series of garden talks, and this Saturday it's on photography in the garden. I'm looking forward to picking up tips to help me grow my photography skills.

    http://beyondthegardengate-beth.blogspot.com
    http://foodasart-beth.blogspot.com

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  35. I love that song too - in fact I like most of her songs and especially "Girls Just Wanta Have Fun".
    Your rainbow is beautiful. I can't wait to see how my red breadseed poppies do.

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  36. Nothing like a rainbow of color and song to brighten up a dreary Chicago winter day! Thanks Catherine!

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  37. I enjoyed your rainbow post Catherine - I can catch a glimpse of something orange behind the salvia, which makes a great combination.

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  38. Wow! What a feast for the eyes in the middle of winter! Your photographs look great, so nice and sharp. Great job, Catherine!

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  39. Beautiful, Catherine! And I love Cyndi Lauper's song, too.

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  40. Your rainbow is so pretty. I love the breadseed poppy, but my goodness your hummingbird in the top of your blog is so sweet!

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