It is an unusual client that opts for a green garden. I doubt I have the discipline this requires-though the front of the shop is grey, green and white this year. Truth be told, I love flowers. All manner of flowers, all shapes, all sizes. Little flowers-fine. Subtle flowers-I see. Daisies-no matter that I see them everywhere, I love them. The flowers that grace my summer-I love them one and all. Giant flowers-what fun. Blooms-I am besotted by them. But a green garden does have that aura of serenity about it.
Serene does not necessarily mean sleepy. The infinite variation in color, shape, texture and mass of green plants is astonishing. Green plants of singular form populate this planet such that one could plant any number of green schemes and never repeat oneself. These containers with ferns and pepperomia are lush growing, content on this porch.
An old bay tree in a varnished Belgian box provides solid company to a long narrow window box.
Plectranthus Silver Shield makes a swell, densely growing summer ground cover in a small space. The thick felted grey green leaves are quite handsome. That frosty green color persists in the sunniest and hottest spots you have, and is easy on the eyes. Its billowing habit of growth is very attractive.
The plants in the window box look like bunting casually draping over the window box rail. Those needled succulents are quite blue-green, and look great with the dichondra. There is no brass band blaring here, just a plant string quartet quietly playing a simple melody.
This white pergola with its wisteria roof is beautiful; there is no need to introduce a competitve element. The mandevillea in the the boxes repeats the vining of the wisteria; the white flowers echo the white wood of the pergola. Getting a planting to sit down and blend in seamlessly with all and any other garden elements makes for a serene space. When plants talk too much, bicker, or compete with one another, the space will take a much more lively turn. Deciding how high you like the volume outdoors can help you decide what and how to plant.
Green spaces have an added attraction; most shades and textures of green look great together. When you use materials that are all the same color, it encourages you to see the differences. What textures compliment or enhance each other? Big leaves look great with little leaves. Shiny leaves look great with hairy leaves. I am surprised I do not see more groundcover plantings that mix vinca and baltic ivy. The contrast of leaf size and texture is subtle, and interesting.
Topiary plants are a natural in a green garden. Many plants can be trained to grow in formally or informally clipped shapes. The common denominator to all-the hand of the gardener, clipping and training towards an overall shape. The effect of these groupings of pots is restful. The formally pruned yews make a beautifully dark green backdrop for this collection of topiary.
Lovely.
I have clients whose interest in gardens runs to green, and more green. Though my love for the green of the plant is every bit as great as my love for their flowers, I have never had the discipline it takes to restrict my own palette like this. But I find that whenever a client represents their own point of view outdoors, the result looks just right. 
These large stone and brick piers punctuate a pair of walls that partially enclose a terrace. I plant them with a mix of plants whose textures are as unlike stone and brick as possible. This is a matter of directing visual attention. The window boxes on the roof of my shop are not so gorgeous. They are made of galvanized sheet metal ordinarily used in the production of ductwork for the heating and cooling industry. The sole function of those boxes is to hold the soil, nutrients and water for the plants-they have no visual interest in and of themselves. The intent here is to acknowledge the beautiful surface of the container as much as the planting.
A green planting has a quiet and serene look, as the greens so closely relate in color and value. The green of these painted Belgian oak boxes harmonizes with the color of the bluestone terrace; the relationship is a subtle one. The Dallas Blues panic grass repeats that color. Monochromatic color schemes tend to read that way, although an ocean of orange is anything but serene. Add some contrasting purple to that orange, which in turn contrasts with the green, and you have a visual party going on. These greens speak softly.
A porch planting plays the spiky texture of a tropical fern off the round chubby leaves of a of large scale pepperomia; the effect is pleasing, not demanding. The elegant English wirework planter reminiscent of vintage conservatory furniture is balanced with a simple and very rustic wreath that hangs on the wall year round.
The container collection is a beautiful one. An American stoneware grape panel container from the 1920’s, and English lead and the Belgian oak box are very different in materials and forms, but very much alike in feeling.
A pair of very old and distinctive French iron planters sit on the walls. I usually plant them with lavender, and alyssum, showy oregano, and whatever other herb like plant seems appropriate. The effect is graceful; the muted colors of every aspect of this space invite contemplation.
Some plants stay green all season, as our summer is too short to permit flowering-as in this large tropical salvia. The fine perennial hyssop hangs on to the ghostly lavender of its flowers a very long time; this is repeated in a lavender trailing verbena. Though there is some color here, it is the relationships of the greens that reads first and foremost.
I think the leaves of tibouchina grandiflora are surely my favorite. The large oval leaves are completely covered in fine white hairs; they are a marvel. Their contrast to the needles of the rosemary topiary is considerable in form, and little in color. Variegated licorice is one of the most versatile of all green plants. The leaves sport two different shades of green; the blotches are very blue green, while the edges are more yellow-green. It works with every plant with which it is paired. This collection of pots benefits from the lively effect of its habit of growth, and relative lightness. Subtle does not mean sleepy.
