Emeralds Darling

Pantone's color of the year 2013:  Emerald!

Taken from Pantone's 2013 announcement:  "Most often associated with brilliant, precious gemstones, the perception of Emerald is sophisticated and luxurious. Since antiquity, this luminous, magnificent hue has been the color of beauty and new life in many cultures and religions. It’s also the color of growth, renewal and prosperity – no other color conveys regeneration more than green. For centuries, many countries have chosen green to represent healing and unity."  "For the most part, (emerald) really reflects the era we're living in," said Pantone's vice president, Laurie Pressman.

The Pantone yearly color choice has the fashion industry all a twitter.  It drives design in everything from clothes to cars.  Fortunately the garden industry has been all over Emerald Green since Adam and Eve found the need for fig leaves. 

It brings about the coolness of shade, the backdrop to bright flowers, or the frame for sculpture.  It highlights football jerseys and makes a good bounce for a tennis ball.  Back in the day, it was the substance for croquet, badminton and horseshoe.

Foliage greens are often used as a backdrop for flowers both in the garden and in a vase.  And then there are the oh so beautiful green flowers.

I've especially enjoyed green zinnias, bells of Ireland, hydrangea and flowering tobacco.  Examples:

Michigan Bulb Co. "Green Envy Coneflower" 

Proflowers "Living Succulent Wreath"

 

One of my evergreen trees.

 

My garden:  flowering tobacco

 





Bottom:  Martha Steward "wedding bouquet"
Top:  Sweet bell pepper photo refusing to let go of Martha Stewart
 

 

An unknown named hosta from the Galesburg preacher.   

If you've never tried emerald green as a focal point in your gardens, scout out nurseries this year and experiment with them.  It's a color we take for granted in this part of the country and it's about time we shout out GO GREEN!