So here’s the scoop, a company called Pantone has selected the “Color of the Year” each year since 2000. Twice a year the company hosts a secret meeting somewhere in a European capital, with representatives from various nations' color standards groups. I did not know there were such groups! After two days of presentations and debate, they choose a color for the following year. Sounds like a lot of hoopla for a color but hear me out.
Pantone “Ultimate Gray” and “Illuminating” 2021
Consider the arts, fashion and design. What about the color that a company chooses for their logo? Sports team colors? Think about how color affects your mood.
Getting to 2021, the Pantone panel actually chose TWO colors this year. Simply put, a yellow and a gray. Hmmm, gray? Really? That sounded rather dubious to me considering the year 2020 and the global calamity we’ve shared but they were very thoughtful in their process and, well, I’ll let them explain it.
“Ultimate Gray” and “Illuminating” together are practical and rock solid while at the same time warming and optimistic. Strength and positivity, happiness supported by fortitude. The warmth of yellow imbued with solar power while the gray pebbles on a beach weather the test of time.
Pretty impressive. So why is The Garden Scoop talking about Pantone and colors of the year? To share the colors of yellow and gray in our gardens. The National Garden Bureau has selected the Sunflower as their annual of the year. What timing!
Image by TheOtherKev from Pixabay
The sunflower literally follows the sun. It’s bright cheery face smiles brightly as it moves with the power of the sun.
From annuals to perennials to shrubs and trees, the list of yellow plants is long! A few natives include:
- Rudbeckia aka Blackeyed Susan
- Solidago aka Goldenrod
- Helianthus which look like small sunflowers
The numerous ornamental plants will warm and brighten your mood as well as your landscape. All are pollinator magnets.
And on to gray (or silver if you prefer). There are a number of these plants that accent our gardens and are integral to any moonlight garden.
- Artemisia, aka wormwood, is a perennial with several cultivars.
- Leadplant is a native shrub that grows to about 3 ft. tall with spike-like masses of tiny purple flowers from June through August.
- Ironwood trees’ wood is very strong, hard, heavy and durable. It’s used for fence posts, handles of tools, mallets and other small articles, and fuel. An attractive ornamental tree.
Leadplant turns grayer later in the season
While we really don’t need a color company to help us decide which colors to plant, it’s fun to see the palette come alive in our landscapes.
Here’s to sunshine and strength,
