Add a Splash of Color to Your Hosta Garden

It goes without saying that tastes vary. Hosta purists might recoil at the addition of a strong primary color to the cool blues, greens, and golds in their garden. To others, including me, the judicious addition of a splash of strong color to a mature planting can add excitement and visual interest.

I'm constantly puttering around my garden beds, looking for something that will make them more beautiful, at least in my eyes. It is always pleasant to hear a nice comment about your plants and flowers from a garden guest, but in the end the most important one to please is the one that does the work and lives with the garden all day, every day. Last summer I saw a red ceramic bird bath that I liked, but it seemed a little pricey. Then it was marked down $10, but I still resisted. After another $10 reduction, I bought it and placed it in a bed of Hostas. This spring I saw a red sphere and thought, why not? It would look nice with the bird bath. A large Hosta was planted in a red planter, which made three spots of color. Three is a pleasant number in the garden. Red seemed to be a good choice.

Hosta 'Diana Remembered' in a red container

Sphere with Hostas

Then I thought, what about some blue?

Blue Sphere with Hosta 'Patriot'

Complementary planting

Sphere with Mouse Ears Hostas

A more subdued container.

Grouping

Hostas, Rose, Sphere

Hosta "The Razor's Edge' in blue container.

grouping

A more subdued sphere