Garden Trends 2016
Here it is again, time for my most fun and favourite post of the entire year! The garden trends post!
Can you guess what is trending in the upcoming garden year?
Technology plays such a huge part in our everyday lives, it just stands to reason that we find a way to use it in the garden, as well. Techie skills can now help us grow better, smarter, plot out garden designs, track our plantings, crop rotations, identify plants ... and share our bragging rights, too ; )
More importantly though, technology is also helping get our wee generation, the kidlets, outdoors again. Learning how to build bat houses, save monarchs, count bird species, hike with gps, scavenger hunt, hike for flower/critter photos, build bean tee pees ... Reconnecting with nature, health and fitness, in a fun, new, innovative, and interesting way.
2. The Maker Generation - Yuccies are super crafters and makers!
Yuccies (the young, urban, creative generation) grow their own blooms for soaps, shampoos, and dyes, or hops for beer making, grapes for wine-making, and herbs for teas. They keep bees for the honey, get the wax for candle making, keep their own chickens, and save their own seeds.
Hands on growing and crafting for the sake of the creative experience, as much as, for the item itself. I think some of this has certainly rubbed off on the rest of us, too, regenerated our love of making and doing. How fun is that, eh? 2016 is looking pretty bright!
3. Nostalgia - Re-creating great childhood memories in our own yardscapes.
Happily, we are making yards that remind us of our happy childhoods, of times gone by ... planting that same, wonderful, juicy apple variety that grandma had growing in her yard, picking carrots fresh from our garden plots like we used to do as kids, swinging on tire swings, and smelling fragrant flowers that remind us of picnics in the backyard or at the lake. I like this trend, it feels warm and fuzzy, homey and comfortable, like an old sweater.
A great number of gardeners are also pet owners, so creating pet friendly yards where they can safely be and run and play is vital. Broad pathways by the fence line so your dogs can run back and forth, saying hello to their doggie friends without harming any plants. Organic, chemical free lawns for them to run and play or lie around and scratch their backs, catnip for kitties, and non-toxic plants for everyone. Gardens that are friendly and safe for our best, furry friends.
5. Brownscaping/zeriscaping - Water conservation is in!
With drought conditions and tough summertime water restrictions, conservation has become more important than ever! Watering wisely, letting lawns go brown (they will recover in fall), using that water for edibles, pots, and planters instead. Removing lawns completely, or making smaller courtyards using eco friendly grasses, or low growing alternatives. Changing out those old, thirsty, perennial beds with tough, hardy, layered gardens of trees, shrubs and flowers.
Creating new, hip and happening landscapes by using lots of gravel and mulch. Growing succulents, native plants, drought tolerant trees, shrubs and flowers. Making key-hole gardens, dry river beds, meadows, and rain gardens. Our yardscapes will be amazing, be the talk of the 'hood, conserve water and be chemical free ... so much nicer, and less work, than those boring, old lawns of yesteryear.
6. Think Tiny! - Dwarf shrubs, dwarf trees, mini veggies and compact plants!
It is now easier than ever to have a lovely, productive, kitchen garden in a yard of any size. Growing dwarf or potted plants is in, so the choices are endless.
Brazelberries are new, dwarf blueberries and raspberries, perfect for pots and small spaces. Fruit trees in columnar, dwarf, and multi-graft forms, allow us all to have our own wee orchard... even on a patio! I love the look of berry bushes and fruit trees growing in pots.
Grow almost any veggie in a pot or a planters. Dwarf, compact bush veggies such as the Astia Zucchini, Bush Cucumber, Tiny Tim Tomato, and Tom Thumb lettuce are small and tidy growers, ideal for pots or small garden plots. Rest assured, these guys are all open pollinated, hybrid, and even heirloom, absolutely not frankenfruits!
Get the kids excited about growing and eating veggies with super cute, minis! Tiny little Baby Belle peppers, Sweet Pea Currant tomatoes, Morden Midget eggplants, Romeo carrots, baby potatoes, Munchkin pumpkins, and Golden Midget watermelons.
7. Local flower growers - Yes, thank you!
Local and organic, small flower farms are popping up all over the country, providing us all with fabulous blooms grown in fields and beds, outside in the sunshine where they belong.
No more of those imported from afar, greenhouse grown, chemically drenched, 'perfect' (yet unscented) flowers, that create a huge carbon footprint! Locally grown blooms are organic and sustainable. Buy locally sourced blooms and bouquets from your florist or straight off the farm.
8. Watery hues are so hot, they are sizzling!
Blooms in soft pastels and blushes are the in-thing this year. Lovely hues that look like water-colour paintings, with muted and faded out tones.
Be on trend this summer by planting lots of neutral, watery, soft neutrals ... then tszuj it (amp it up!) with some faded-out pink or purple under-tones for contrast, such as the zinnias below. Wow! Gotta say, this trend really works for me!
You will notice that they are also both soft, watery, subtle hues that we talked about above ... quite the difference from last years deep, bold colour.
Can you guess what is trending in the upcoming garden year?
www.telegraph.co.uk
1. Plugging in - Computers, phones, tablets, cameras ... put them to use in the garden, too!
Technology plays such a huge part in our everyday lives, it just stands to reason that we find a way to use it in the garden, as well. Techie skills can now help us grow better, smarter, plot out garden designs, track our plantings, crop rotations, identify plants ... and share our bragging rights, too ; )
More importantly though, technology is also helping get our wee generation, the kidlets, outdoors again. Learning how to build bat houses, save monarchs, count bird species, hike with gps, scavenger hunt, hike for flower/critter photos, build bean tee pees ... Reconnecting with nature, health and fitness, in a fun, new, innovative, and interesting way.
Rose petal soap
Yuccies (the young, urban, creative generation) grow their own blooms for soaps, shampoos, and dyes, or hops for beer making, grapes for wine-making, and herbs for teas. They keep bees for the honey, get the wax for candle making, keep their own chickens, and save their own seeds.
Hands on growing and crafting for the sake of the creative experience, as much as, for the item itself. I think some of this has certainly rubbed off on the rest of us, too, regenerated our love of making and doing. How fun is that, eh? 2016 is looking pretty bright!
Not my grandma's garden, but how I picture it ; )
Happily, we are making yards that remind us of our happy childhoods, of times gone by ... planting that same, wonderful, juicy apple variety that grandma had growing in her yard, picking carrots fresh from our garden plots like we used to do as kids, swinging on tire swings, and smelling fragrant flowers that remind us of picnics in the backyard or at the lake. I like this trend, it feels warm and fuzzy, homey and comfortable, like an old sweater.
Penelope and Ruby Tuesday.
The apples of this momma's eye ; )
The apples of this momma's eye ; )
4. Pet-scaping - Pet friendly yards and landscapes. Yep, I can see this one.
A great number of gardeners are also pet owners, so creating pet friendly yards where they can safely be and run and play is vital. Broad pathways by the fence line so your dogs can run back and forth, saying hello to their doggie friends without harming any plants. Organic, chemical free lawns for them to run and play or lie around and scratch their backs, catnip for kitties, and non-toxic plants for everyone. Gardens that are friendly and safe for our best, furry friends.
From www.milehighlandscaping.com
5. Brownscaping/zeriscaping - Water conservation is in!
With drought conditions and tough summertime water restrictions, conservation has become more important than ever! Watering wisely, letting lawns go brown (they will recover in fall), using that water for edibles, pots, and planters instead. Removing lawns completely, or making smaller courtyards using eco friendly grasses, or low growing alternatives. Changing out those old, thirsty, perennial beds with tough, hardy, layered gardens of trees, shrubs and flowers.
Creating new, hip and happening landscapes by using lots of gravel and mulch. Growing succulents, native plants, drought tolerant trees, shrubs and flowers. Making key-hole gardens, dry river beds, meadows, and rain gardens. Our yardscapes will be amazing, be the talk of the 'hood, conserve water and be chemical free ... so much nicer, and less work, than those boring, old lawns of yesteryear.
Grow fruit in pots!
It is now easier than ever to have a lovely, productive, kitchen garden in a yard of any size. Growing dwarf or potted plants is in, so the choices are endless.
Brazelberries are new, dwarf blueberries and raspberries, perfect for pots and small spaces. Fruit trees in columnar, dwarf, and multi-graft forms, allow us all to have our own wee orchard... even on a patio! I love the look of berry bushes and fruit trees growing in pots.
Grow almost any veggie in a pot or a planters. Dwarf, compact bush veggies such as the Astia Zucchini, Bush Cucumber, Tiny Tim Tomato, and Tom Thumb lettuce are small and tidy growers, ideal for pots or small garden plots. Rest assured, these guys are all open pollinated, hybrid, and even heirloom, absolutely not frankenfruits!
Get the kids excited about growing and eating veggies with super cute, minis! Tiny little Baby Belle peppers, Sweet Pea Currant tomatoes, Morden Midget eggplants, Romeo carrots, baby potatoes, Munchkin pumpkins, and Golden Midget watermelons.
I am not a flower farm, but I love to grow my own cutting garden...
Locally grown blooms are organic, fragrant, gorgeous, and sustainable.
Local and organic, small flower farms are popping up all over the country, providing us all with fabulous blooms grown in fields and beds, outside in the sunshine where they belong.
No more of those imported from afar, greenhouse grown, chemically drenched, 'perfect' (yet unscented) flowers, that create a huge carbon footprint! Locally grown blooms are organic and sustainable. Buy locally sourced blooms and bouquets from your florist or straight off the farm.
Cafe au Lait dahlia - soft and pretty
Blooms in soft pastels and blushes are the in-thing this year. Lovely hues that look like water-colour paintings, with muted and faded out tones.
Be on trend this summer by planting lots of neutral, watery, soft neutrals ... then tszuj it (amp it up!) with some faded-out pink or purple under-tones for contrast, such as the zinnias below. Wow! Gotta say, this trend really works for me!
Lime Queen Zinnia
Soft muted, faded hue with a pink under-tone.
This is what is 'hot' for 2016!
I Love It!
Rose Quartz- 2016 Colour of the year!
(Cafe au Lait dahlia)
Found on stylemepretty.com
9. As always, I saved the best for last... Pantone's Colour of the Year for 2016
They actually chose two colours this year, for the first time ever! Serenity Blue and Rose Quartz!
You will notice that they are also both soft, watery, subtle hues that we talked about above ... quite the difference from last years deep, bold colour.
Serenity Blue - 2016 Colour of the year!
(Sweet Pea blossoms and Clematis)
Found on stylemepretty.com
Happy gardening 2016, my friends!
Happy gardening 2016, my friends!
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