Is this garden half empty or half full? There is no room for a negative attitude when creating a garden. Gardening can be a challenging and perplexing experience, but with determination and resolve come the sweet rewards. A garden is an evolving puzzle that does not come with operating instructions. The living, growing nature of a garden does not allow for perfectionism. At its best, gardening is mostly guesswork; a process of trial and elimination.

            Many garden experts express the importance of mapping out a garden plan on paper before setting anything in the soil. Unfortunately, what works on paper does not always work in your yard. Gardens are often best worked out on the ground, moving plants around until you find an arrangement or combination that catches your eye. Not only does eye appeal come together better in real life, but the true test of a plant’s adaptability in the yard can be tested. Plants can react very differently to different light exposures, soils, and temperatures. Often times, a plant that you may research as a likely candidate for your garden may not do well in your yard, even though the book says that it should. Do not be afraid to move plants that do not fit in or aren’t what you expected.

            If you are determined to put something down on paper first, make a list of the plants you are considering for the garden. This list should include the size the plant will get, its blooming habits, and one often overlooked feature, the types of leaves. Leaves are just as important as blooms when it comes to a successful garden. The color and texture of leaves can tie a garden together, or make it look disjointed and busy.

            Let’s consider leaf color. Even the most common leaf color, green, ranges from blue, olive, gray and chartreuse. The right combination of these shades can dazzle the eye, To take it one step further, consider plants with variegated leaves, splashed, striped, or edged in white, yellow, pink or gold. Varying the shades of green keep a garden from looking monotonous whether it’s in bloom or not. Texture is another important feature. Mix fine-leafed plants together with broad-leafed plants and see the possibilities come to life.

            Once the plants have been chosen, place them in various arrangements until you find what catches your eye. Resist the temptation to cover every square inch with plants and leave some open space for annuals. The best gardens are loose enough to let things happen, whether by gardener’s impulse or spirit of self expression.