Mimosa might be Pantone’s 2009 color of the year, but yellow in the garden?  I’ve been trying to accept the “warmth and nurturing quality” of yellow ever since I read about it for the first time on Jessica Hibbard’s blog.  The color yellow has come to be a sign of imminent plant death in my garden, or that I’ve seriously neglected them.  You know the scenario, the once lush green leaves turn yellow, fall off, then die.  Previously, my goal was to avoid yellow, not purposely surround myself with it.

However, I have a new appreciation for the color upon returning from the Northwest Flower & Garden Show.  I was amazed to see how well yellow coordinated with virtually any other color, especially the cool gray tones.  Then I read an article where Leatrice Eiseman, known as America’s Color Guru, stated that “yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance.”  When you think about it, yellow really makes sense this time of year, especially during these tough economic times we’re in.  If I could only feel the warmth of the yellow sun right now.

Here’s a few of yellow-themed designs from the 2009 Northwest Flower & Garden Show:

Designed by Smith & Hawken

Yellow Daylillies, Dryopteris Autumn (Japanese Wood Fern), Helleborus ‘Ivory Prince,’
Huechera ‘Lime Rickey,’ Euphorbia Blackbird

Mock Orange, Phormium ‘Yellow Wave,’ Yellow Twig Dogwood

Edibles in gray containers and yellow accents

Bright colors add drama to a monochromatic plant pallete