March is a wobbly bridge between winter and spring. It is undecided about whether to wrap us in warmth or give us frostbite. It shoves us around with blustery winds one day, then wraps us in balmy breezes the next.
March is the month that we welcome spring. Subtle signs of spring are apparent everywhere. Buds are now forming on previously barren trees. Tender young bulb shoots are emerging from the ground. Birds are beginning to sing wearing their fluffy coats. The birds must know that March is here. They are already building their nests.
Today March greets us with balmy breezes and tomorrow March greets us with icy gusts. We shoud appreciate March every minute because spring is often fleeting and it tells us that summer is on it's way.
Meowmie was born in March. Her favorite seasons are spring and fall. We two gals like watching the snow melt from our sunporch. Meowmie gets excited when seeing the first blooms of spring in our shade garden. Meowmie has planted very small bulbs and wind flowers in the shade garden. She has also planted small crocus bulbs under the birdbath in our heart shaped garden. Natural violets will soon be shooting up and begin it's border around the shade gardens. We have seen our Robin return and we welcome Spring with it's promise of rebirth.
We gals enjoy the warmth of the sun from our window perches in our sunporch.
The Psychology of Color
The colours you have in your garden reveal a lot about you...
Over the last few years, extensive scientific research has been carried out into the psychology of colour. Dark blue commands respect and is therefore used for Police and other uniforms. Green is relaxing and is used on the walls of hospitals and even the emulsion we paint on our living room walls can effect our moods. But it doesn't end there because we should also use colour carefully in the garden. The colours of leaves, flowers and berries also conspire to not only change our mood but to broadcast our personalities to visitors. So next time you're in someone else's garden, take a look around. There may be more to it than initially meets the eye.
|
Lobelia
If a garden has consciously been planted with lots of red flowers this can imply assertiveness and, being a fairly masculine colour with the maximum visual impact, it may be used to play down femininity by either sex. Red in a garden could be used in a more active area, perhaps around the lawn or swimming pool. The various tints, tones and shades can be stimulating and exciting and some say that in extremes reds will actually raise the blood pressure. Meowmie likes Lobelia, the cardinal flower which is a very pretty red named for one of her favorite birds who visits our feeders.
Yarrow
Yellow focuses on the emotions; ego, optimism and self-esteem. It is also the colour we associate with spring, with daffodils and primroses. It is bright and cheerful, the colour of sunshine and lifts the spirits. The daffodils and yellow primroses lifts Meowmie's spirits in early spring. Yarrow lifts Meowmie's spirit all summer long.
Polmonaria Blue
Blue is the colour of intellect and of course is the colour associated with boys. Blue is deemed to lower blood pressure, it is soothing and calming and encourages reflection. Nature uses it in huge amounts in the sky and the sea and its use in the garden can have the same effects. Great swathes of forget-me-not in spring can hardly fail to relax. It is the favourite colour of more adults than any other. Meowmie has planted a lot of blue in her borders. Her favorites are the blue windflower in early spring and pulmonaria and her blue butterfly bushes in summer.
|
Green Grass
Green is the number one choice for a relaxing garden. It is created by chlorophyll which is vital to life. In nature it indicates water in abundance so when we are surrounded by plenty of green we feel reassured. Green is at the centre of the spectrum and represents perfect balance, which the eye doesn't need to adjust in order to see it and so requires no effort. Our lawns are often our greatest patch of green in the garden so think twice about ripping it up and laying decking. Hostas, ferns and rhododendrons all provide an excellent relaxing backdrop to other colours. The bench in the shade garden out back is Meowmie's favorite place to relax and enjoy the beauty of her green shade borders.
Delphinium
Violet is the colour of someone who prefers to be left to peaceful contemplation, perhaps someone who gardens just for themselves and isn't worried about shouting out their achievements to others. Wisteria and various delphiniums are all suitable.
Cosmos
Pink is an expression of femininity for those men and women in touch with their feminine sides. A hint of reddish pink like pink flax is physically soothing and represents the feminine parenting instinct. Meowmie has planted pink archillia, echinacia, coral bells and has seeded pink cosmos in her borders.
|
Butterfly Milkweed
Orange is sexy too because of its associations with physical enjoyment and fiery passion. It can create a feeling of physical comfort and can look very sensual. Meowmie planted butterfly milkweed in her front porch border to attract our monarch butterflies which love the colors of blue and orange.
Our meowmie prefers the colors of purple, blue, pink,white,yellow and green in her flower beds. She does have some reds tucked in her Fairy Garden...Cardinal Flowers. We cats know a lot about our Meowmie by what colors she has planted in her gardens.
Your activity for March is to mew to us about what colors you prefer in your gardens. Mew to us by sending your graphics and favorite colors that you have planted in your gardens by clicking on the mail button below. We cats will learn a lot about our Flower Society members by the colors which you prefer, which reminds us... Please send in your biographies and pictures for our "Getting to Know You" page.
