Re: bright color stains for decks & fences was: Chelsea Show and Europe

How times have changed!  My memories of UK gardens were primarily in
pastels with the occasional 'hot' border in reds, oranges and chrome
yellows / golds.  I first saw 'Bishop o Llandaff' at Hidcote in their
famous red border...of course, wanted it and of course, couldn't find
it this side of the pond for love nor money.  Didn't realize it was
scarce on your side, too.  Pity about Sissinghurst...too much
popularity can be worse than not enough.

You're right - the grass is always greener on the other side of the
fence:-)

As for decks.  From what I've seen, most are either left natural or
stained in various 'wood tone' stains.  Cannot remember ever seeing -
even a photo- of any in in blues, greens, yellow, terracotta and
purple.  Boy, when you English go color wild, you don't do it by
halves!  Fencing is often painted white and sometimes dark colors
like green or black, but I've never in all my born days seen a purple
fence or even a yellow one.

Plant containers are usually neutral, but they can be any color and
anything...those I have seen in every color under the sun, but not so
much bright metallics for exterior use.  Plenty of brass, copper and
silver colored planters for interior use - esp. in commercial
buildings.

Of course, I'm speaking of basically the East Coast - Mid Atlantic
area of the US - pretty conservative and traditionally oriented area
by and large...The US is a very big place and others in other parts
of the country may stain their decks purple as a matter of course. 
What say you guys from all over (including Canada and any other
countries represented on this list)...what color (if any) do you
stain your wood decks?  What colors do you paint or stain your
fences?

And to keep this perennially oriented for Christopher, if you do use
bright colors on your exterior woodwork, what perennials do you plant
to go with them?

And Valerie...do let us know when Susan raids her piggy if it holds
enough for that hotel:-)

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
current article :What's in a Name? Taxonomy
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----------
> From: Valerie-Anne Mullett <valerie-anne@lineone.net>
> Date: Thursday, January 27, 2000 7:42 PM

> When we went to Sissinghurst we really did not enjoy it - you are
right
> Marge, you cannot appreciate the garden with so many other people
there; we
> could not get a look in at the 'White Garden'.

> >Think opening a hotel for garden tours sounds quite a nice idea:-)

> I'm just waiting for Susan to raid her piggy bank :).

> I think I'm right in saying that at the time Lloyd created the 'Hot
Borders'
> we were into pastel colours over here.   For example, Cannas were
only used
> in public parks etc but the 'fashion' has now changed and hot
colours are
> definitely 'in' and Cannas have become commonplace as has Bishop of
Llandaff
> (which was most difficult to get hold of at one time).

> Since reading the list, I have been filled with envy over the size
of the
> gardens you have in the States in comparison to the size of gardens
most of
> us have in the UK - the grass is always greener......
> I realize that this is not a 'perennial plant' subject but I wonder
if
> anyone has any views on the following.   Decking has taken off over
here in
> a big way (in fact we have erected decking as a terrace instead of
paving)
> and the TV gardeners seem intent on staining decking, fences and
anything
> else that will take colour, in blues, greens, yellow, terracotta
and purple
> etc.  This is creating as much controversy as Christopher Lloyd's
hot
> borders.   Do you stain your fences, decking etc., or is the
conventional,
> natural look preferred?   Plant containers are painted every colour
under
> the sun, including silver and bright metal is now being used in
gardens for
> pergolas etc.   I feel that I'm being left behind in the rush to be
> different :).
> Valerie, South Yorkshire, England.
> 
> 
> 
> 
>
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