Golden pairings

The WHPS tour of Jeannette Golden's garden last month offered myriad ideas for plant pairings, including great use of Clematis. Jeannette and I both garden under black walnut trees. They dominate her shade garden (first two photos below), so I took particular note of what does well under her trees.

Though, I must admit, much of the color and drama was in Jeannette's sunnier gardens. I realize my garden tends to concentrate on perennials and woodies. I rarely add annuals or tropicals, but it is those additions that really raise Jeannette's plant combinations to another level. They offer unusual colors and dramatic foliage that can be hard to achieve otherwise.

Comments

[Cindy at enclos*ure]

Some great combos! And I love using the tree trunk as a planter -- especially with those curls at the ends.

[LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Cindy —​I am also using a tree trunk as a planter for some herbs. But mine is not nearly as elegant a form.

Lucia — ​As far as I know that plant with the spotted leaves is a Geranium phaeum, one of the mourning widow geraniums. They all have spotted leaves. This one is probably 'Samobor,' which I also grow. She really has a fabulous garden!​

[lucia]

Both these posts on Jeanette's garden are wonderful. Her colors are just my colors! Wish I had id on some of the plants. Do you, by any chance, what the plant with lobed leaves spotted with purple in the second photo is? I too love (and covet) the tree trunk planter -- there is nothing like natural form.
lucia

[Erin @ The Impatient Gardener]

I've never met a clematis combination that I didn't love, but I have to say, that daylily growing through the purple smokebush is absolutely genius!

[Lisa at Greenbow]

I have/had one of those heart shaped trunks left in the garden. I think it is covered up with ??? Can't remember. I will have to get out there and do something with it like this. Love some of these tropicals. Those big leaves are fun.