Blush Tones

Blush Coast takes its inspiration from the pink hues of the sunsets and sunrises along the coast, particularly from the paintings of the British masters such as Turner. Including plants that would be seen around the seaside, as well as willow and grasses and the bare branches of shrubs and trees at this time of year. Blush tones are in rich supply in winter flowering plants from large shrubs such as Viburnum tinus ‘Eve Rose’, tiny pale pink flowers against the dark evergreen leaves or the deeper pink of ‘Lisarose’. For the rest of the year the deep evergreen leaves make the perfect backdrop to highlight spring and summer flowering plants.

Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postil’

The deciduous Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ flowers on bare branches with deep pink buds that fade to pale pink flowers and the added bonus of being highly scented. Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ (grows up to four metres high) and Daphne odora (grows up to 1.5 metres), both are strongly scented with delicate pale pink flowers, flowering from January to February and sometimes into March (although best grown in sheltered spots as they may need protection from frosts). If there is a shady area in the garden then Daphne odora is ideal at the edge of a woodland or near overhanging trees. Daphne x transatlantica is becoming more readily available in nurseries and garden centres, a smaller more compact variety but is fully hardy unlike some of its taller cousins, Daphne x transatlantica ‘Pink Fragrance’ has beautiful pink flowers and would fit perfectly in a small space or garden.

Smaller splashes of blush

Hellebores are perfect winter and early spring fillers for just aboutany garden, liking sun or partial shade they will cover up patches of bare soil, planted around the base of deciduous shrubs will add colour and interest and make darker areas of the garden come alive. Hellebores too come in an amazing range of pinks, Helleborus × hybridus ‘Pretty Ellen Pink’ looks like some has painted it with a watercolours in shades of pink, perfect for that blush colour of a coastal sunset. Helleborus × ericsmithii ‘Pirouette’ is a more compact, delicate but deeper pink variety. To mix in blush tones with bare branches Cyclamen are another perfect winter flowering plant for dotting around the base of deciduous shrubs, from the pale pink of Cyclamen hederifolium to the deeper pink of Cyclamen coum.

Hellebores

Adding the Sparkle

Sparkle in the garden for me is associated with frost catching the seed heads that have been left, that element of glitter on a cold winter’s day, from grasses to perennials like Phlomis, the perfect garden bauble. Adding lighting will also make the garden sparkle, uplighters will highlight a focal point, a favourite tree or piece of sculpture or scattered amongst the borders will add a diffuse glow to the plants. Strings of outdoor lights will give that Christmas feeling, wrapped round the bare bones of a large shrub or deciduous tree or around topiary at the entrance to a house or garden.

Frost covered seed heads

About the Author

Camilla Grayley is a garden designer based in York, mainly working in and around Yorkshire but has travelled up and down the UK to design gardens and is always happy to travel to help clients with their gardens. I love creating gardens with strong architectural outlines softened by voluminous planting that draws on year round interest, ensuring there is something to capture the eye whatever the season. Gardens should always evoke all the senses from the colour palette on the eye, to the rustling of plants swaying in the wind to the amazing perfumes that can be inhaled, whether on a summer’s evening or the depth of winter.

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