A Silver and Blue Garden

If you yearn for a special place of relaxation and contemplation, consider planting this garden of silver foliage and calming shades of lavender and blue. This serene, cool palette garden includes touches of white and soft yellow for accent.  Many of these perennials are wonderfully fragrant - the scented blossoms of Lavender, Dianthus, and Butterfly Bush partner with the aromatic foliage of the Caryopteris, Artemisia, and Perovskia. As daylight starts to dim, silver, blue, and other pale shades begin to glow and continue to do so well after twilight. All these features make this a perfect garden to plant near your patio or deck. And when summer is over, the delicate, silvery branches of the Butterfly Bush, Caryopteris, Perovskia, and Artemisia and the graceful fountain of Japanese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Sarabande') will provide winter interest. Except for the Delphiniums and Aneomenes which enjoy a little more moisture and fertility, these perennials do just fine in average, well-drained soil with moderate moisture and at least six hours of sun. The only difficulty in creating your silver and blue retreat is choosing among dozens of beautiful perennial candidates. Let this plan be your starting point. Plant in groups of three except where indicated.