White Blooms and GreeneryIn spring, a lush garden enveloped by mature trees and layers of greenery is brightened by white flowers. "One lovely plant partnership combines large-flowered Tulipa Maureen with small-flowered Deutzia," says Oklahoma City garden designer Linda Vater. The white-on-white duo blooms in sync for several weeks in late spring season.
For Spring, Tulip-Packed Window BoxesLarge window boxes can function as year-round container gardens. For ongoing good looks, this one is planted with a mix of permanent shrubs, perennials and vines, with seasonal color from flower bulbs and annuals added twice annually. "In spring, there's a fairytale synergy to the mix of boxwoods and tulips with blue and gold accent plants and green vines," says Oklahoma City garden designer Linda Vater. "In spring, tulips are the divas, so the bulbs are planted densely, shoulder to shoulder, across the back of the box. Colorblends Gentle Giants® tulip blend adds subtle complexity without making the entire combo too busy."
Playful Mix with Alliums.In early summer, the eight-inch orbs of Allium 'Globemaster' are joined by voluptuous, coral-pink poppies and smaller flowered, periwinkle-blue larkspur. "There's an unexpected lightness to the playful interplay of color, texture and bearing," says Oklahoma City garden designer Linda Vater. "The alliums are perennial here. The anonymous poppies and larkspur are self-seeding annuals.
Car-Stopping Spring TulipsIn spring, the neighbors slow down to take in the color of Linda Vater's garden. Each fall, the Oklahoma City garden designer plants up to 800 bulbs in her front bed alone. "I plant the blends in swaths between the shrubs and perennials so the flowers create rivers of color leading to the house," says Vater. She likes to switch things up with annual color changes. Here, she planted two tulip blends in different colors and bloom times: Colorblends Smooch™ tulip blend (pinks, blooms early-mid season) and Colorblends BedSpread© Vidal™ tulip blend (whites, blooms nearly all season long). Once the spring color fades, she pulls out the tulip bulbs and the summer perennials fill in.
Colorful Spring, Subdued SummerGarden designer Linda Vater of Oklahoma City is known for dramatic use of color and form. Here, two views capture the look of her front garden in late spring (on the left) and in early summer (on the right). In late spring, tulips are the big excitement, with white tulips mixed with Colorblends French Blend Rose™ tulip blend in rose, pink and apricot. Deep rose azaleas and bright violet creeping phlox play vital roles in anchoring the curved bed filled with boxwoods, early-emerging perennials, pansies and violas. By early summer, the tulips and cool-season annuals are gone. A subdued summer palette of greens, blues, gold and mahogany takes over to cool things down and the mature trees leaf out to shade the area.
Colorful for Spring, Tulips GaloreGarden designer Linda Vater of Oklahoma City is known for dramatic use of color and form. In late spring in her own front garden, tulips are the big excitement. White tulips are mixed with Colorblends French Blend Rose™ in rose, pink and apricot. Deep rose azaleas and bright violet creeping phlox play vital roles in anchoring the curved bed filled with boxwoods, early-emerging perennials, pansies and violas.
Subdued for Summer, Cool Color PaletteGarden designer Linda Vater of Oklahoma City is known for dramatic use of color and form. By early summer in her front garden, the tulips and cool season annuals are gone. A subdued summer palette of greens, blues, gold and mahogany takes over to cool things down and the mature trees leaf out to shade the area.
