Growing up my mother only wanted gardens that looks like Sissinghurst. It was all pale, mostly white all the time. I was her head gardener, but she was the boss. The over abundance of paleness made me crazy. My main color palette for any splashes of color were daffodils in the spring and even those mostly had to be like Mount Hood, which is a giant white trumpet daffodil and my late father’s favorite. And the antique roses I kept adding, but again most were pale.

So, although I love the contrast of what it’s like to have a green and white garden, because it looks fabulous at night, for example, I need color. Gardens are meant to be colorful.

Years ago when I was starting this garden, my husband told me about his mother’s love for red rhododendrons so I bought a few. And I fell in love there’s nothing better coming out of a winters greatness than early spring green, and big pops of red.

My red rhododendrons, for the most part came from Rhododendrons Direct in Oregon. Others in the garden and red azaleas came from Applied Climatology from the West Chester Growers Market, the now shuttered Somerset Nursery, and the amazing Rhododendron Society Plant Sale at Jenkins Arboretum.

I also am a big fan of the deciduous, native and mountain azaleas. I was introduced to them initially by Applied Climatology, but I also buy them from Mr. Maple, Broken Arrow Nursery, BloomBox, Lots O’ Plants and other growers.

Even in the twilight at the end of the day, I love their color. So many people think plants only should be a certain color and I’m here to tell you that sometimes you need to try something a little different.

I don’t like living in a beige, beige world, so it should be no surprise to anyone that I like my garden colorful. But it doesn’t make you dizzy so try colors, but they have to have harmony. 

Be bold!