A Bright & Beautiful Resolution

Christmas has been neatly packed away. After which there is always that starkness that follows and a touch of sadness. No matter how much you bemoaned the holiday season at its height; there is a warmth and comfort to its traditions that is stripped away come the first or second week of January. There is always the struggle fitting in to the New Year, creating bright fresh resolutions from the bleakness of winter. I find that my first resolution is always adding color. Winter can be quite bright if you know what plants to use. The recipes below create vibrant bursts of color to help you get the year off to a bright and beautiful start: Bronze Beauty I have become entranced with all things bronze. Its warmth and depth add a luxurious touch. The real beauty of the show is a Camelot Lenten Rose with butter colored flowers that mature to a multifaceted bronze-pink on burnished stems. Enter bronze, with Belinda’s Find Hook Sedge and a copper Heuchera of your choice, Dolce Cinnamon Curls or Paprika add a rich palette of tones that highlight the stems and mature blooms of the Lenten Rose. As with all strong colors they need to be balanced with softer colors, for example, light butter colored violas. I also like to balance the look by adding the rich green of Sweet Box to bring poise and a touch of sweet fragrance to this outstanding winter ensemble.

Twist of Lemon Yellow is happiness embodied. Its vibrancy is intoxicating! Fragrant yellow primroses nestle amongst a subtle dark green Sweet Box that brings balance and fragrance. Yellow and green variegated Illumination Vinca trails down the front softening the container and reverberates its colors. The twist? A vivid chartreuse Everillo Sedge, incorporating all shades from yellow to green. This bright combination is happiness with a twist.

Subtle Sophistication Perhaps you find vibrant colors vulgar and you crave a subtle sophistication, something that relies on the restrained play of texture, form and color. The slender dark leaves of Black Mondo grass are contrasted by the velvety silver of Dusty Miller. While the rich green, heart-shaped foliage of Beesia is burnished with the dark purple-black of winter cold. Accentuate this with a purple Cylcamen, with foliage that echoes the silver and green of its partners. This is a chic combination that doesn’t fall all over itself trying to impress, but instead, slowly draws you in to the detail.

I love combinations that create a delicate play on colors. Just as you pick up colors that are in your shirt or scarf and echo them in other accessories, by choosing plants that play off of each other’s colors, you create a rich, enchanting and satisfying display. As started bulbs like Daffodils, Iris, Hyacinths and Tulips are arriving incorporate some into each planting to extend the display. Resolve to create something beautiful and bright this winter. For plants, supplies and advice visit your Local Independent Garden Center. Recipes: Bronze Beauty (12” container pictured) 1 x Camelot Hellebore (Helleborus ‘HGC Camelot’) 1 x Sweet Box (Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis) 1 x Belinda's Find Hook Sedge (Uncinia rubra ‘Belinda’s Find’) 1 x Dolce Cinnamon Curls Coral Bells (Heuchera ‘Dolce Cinnamon Curls’) 1 x Butter cream Violet (Viola) Lemon Twist (10” container pictured) 1 x Everillo Sedge (Carex oshimensis ‘Everillo’) 1 x Sweet Box (Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis) 2 x Yellow Primrose (Primula) 1 x Illumination Vinca (Vinca ‘Illumination’) Subtle Sophistication (10” container pictured) 1 x Cyclamen (Cyclamen coum or Florist’s variety) 1 x Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens') 1 x Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria) 1 x Beesia (Beesia deltophylla)