Re: bright color stains for decks & fences AND Rheum palmatum

Nan - to keep this sorta on topic and avoid the wrath of Chris :-) 
Does anybody out there grow Rheum palmatum [Atrosanguineum]?  And, if
so, where are you, what cultural conditions, how does it grow for
you...well or poorly... and where did you get it?  (I know Heronswood
is listing this in current catalog)

Now, for stain....

Your local paint emporium is only used to selling cans of premixed
colors.  What you're gonna have to do is get some pigment and make
your own.  This web site sells assorted pigments and there are
probably local places to you where you can buy them.  

http://www.bioshieldpaint.com/color.htm

Actually, your local paint emporium ought to know where they can be
found or be able to order them for you.  But you'll get an idea
what's available and what they are from the site.  

What you'd mix to achieve purple, I don't know, as there are blue
purples and red purples and shades in between, but I'm sure it can be
done.  In watercolor or oil paint, you'd mix a red and a blue, so in
pigment you'd want something similar, although they aren't quite like
artists colors to work with.  Hmmm...if you used an oil based stain,
bet you could get artists oil colors and try them:-)  Might affect
the drying ability, but I've been known to mix a lot of weird stuff
together and sometimes have it work just fine.  Problem with mixing
your own colors is achieving a consistency in subsequent batches. 
You have to keep very good records of the amounts of each pigment
used as you experiment so you can repeat it if needed so your project
ends up the same color from start to finish.

Good house - or 'finish'  painters use pigments to get really custom
colors all the time.  You'd mix them as directed by the pigment
manufacturer - but think you can use a clear stain as the vehicle for
the pigment.  A very little pigment goes a very long way.  Even had a
guy who did custom millwork for me mix a stain using pokeberries as
one of the ingredients, to get just the right color.  Was lovely, but
was warned it might be transient and found it so when exposed to
sunlight after a few years.

I expect any exterior paint could be used on terra cotta but you
would probably have some leaching and staining if you keep plants in
it for any length of time.  You'd have to use a brand new pot and
still might get paint cracking and chipping off after a while due to
moisture coming from inside the pot under the paint film.  Look for a
paint specified for use on concrete or masonry.  If you want a glazed
look, use a high gloss paint.  Some of the epoxy paints available
look as shiny as glazed ceramic tile and are pretty impervious to
water; somewhat limited color range off the shelf, but have used
epoxy paints in pool bathhouse projects in any color specified, so
they can be found or mixed.  If you want a paint custom mixed, it's
best to take a sample of the exact color you want to the paint store
and remember, wet paint always looks darker than dry paint.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
current article :What's in a Name? Taxonomy
http://suite101.com/welcome.cfm/222
All garden topics welcome page:
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----------
> From: Nan Sterman <nsterman@mindsovermatter.com>
> Date: Thursday, January 27, 2000 9:07 PM
> 
> I missed the original posting for this but it brings up a quesiton
I've had
> for a while.  I want to stain my overhang purple but all the paint
store
> people look at me as if I were daft.  They have no idea what I can
use to
> create a purple stain.  I've also thought about painting terra
cotta pots
> purple since its nearly impossible to find purple glazed pots. 
What kind
> of paint do you use on terra cotta?
> 
> OT?  Maybe, but I bet you all will forgive me

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