A Queen, a Bishop and a Big Dill

For me, excitement in the garden is caused by contrast…and the occasional snake that slithers by when I’m on my hands and knees weeding. Contrast is described as “to compare in order to show unlikeness, or difference” and can exist between colors, forms, textures, and shapes. Contrast creates tension and gives life to the garden. Without it things can seem flat, boring, lifeless. Imagine a garden of all daisy-shaped flowers. Or rounded shrubs. Or rounded shrubs with daisy-shaped flowers.

In my mixed shrub border I contrast different forms, shapes and textures but confess to having the most fun with flower shapes.

I love the contrast between the daisy shape of the coneflower (echinacea) and the spires of the veronicastrum.

The rounded heads of the allium contrast nicely with the star-shaped balloon flower (platycodon).

One of my favorite flower shapes to use – umbel – is one that I think is often overlooked. Like small umbrellas this shape is a must for any garden – even if it’s not raining.

Dill is one of my all-time favorite “umbels” to design with.

And, as they say about dill, “if you plant it once, you’ll never have to plant it again.”

Yes, it is vigorous and a self sower but I don’t mind. If it seeds in where I don’t want it I just pull it out. My hands smell good and I have a little something to add to the potato salad.

I love the yellow-green color and the light and airy gracefulness it adds to the garden.