Mix and Match a Color Patch

Absolutely everything is fair game for use as whimsical additions to the garden. Wheelbarrows, rusty old chairs that can be repainted, fencing painted to match or contrast with flower colors and even an old cement mixer. Options are only limited by one's imagination.

Sollecito Landscaping Nursery of Syracuse, N.Y. was awarded an Honorable Mention for their 'Mix and Match a Color Patch' entry in the 2007 Perennials Marketing Contest, sponsored by Plant Publicity Holland and the Perennial Plant Association.

In the words of company president, Jim Sollecito, "Perennials are the perfect compliment to any garden, and wonderful on their own merit."

We couldn't agree more.

Jim goes on to advise, "To thoroughly enjoy a yard's potential, we suggest that our customers consider adding garden whimsies that they might already own, such as old tools or an iron chair. Splashed with fun colors, these provide year-round structure, adding to the form and seasonal interest of the plants. We further suggest that customers don't limit the size of their garden whimsy, although scale my dictate what they can use.

Borrowing the most enjoyable colors from their own landscape and applying them to structural elements, is a great reminder of what can be anticipated when a sleepy garden awakens in spring. And no problem if one's color tastes change. There are hundreds of perennial color combinations with which to paint garden elements an appropriate corresponding or contrasting color.

Perennial gardens are great in sweeping borders and as stand-alones in both front and back yards. We also like to suggest tucking them into a corner plantings, enhancing the view from indoors.

We also like to remind our customers that the back yard provides a whole new opportunity for perennial color. Adding to the anticipation, bulbs, most of which are perennials in their own right, give yet another reason to look forward to the return the gardening season as they appear through the melting snows of spring.

One cannot get a better landscape value for one's investment than colorful and hardy perennials. Now get out and start planting!"