Hello Lisa.

Welcome back to yet another edition of THE PENCIL CASE!  Each issue focuses on a theme to encourage a fresh look at garden design and graphics, so since it's fall let's celebrate warm colors! Yay!

WARM COLORS. 

It's fall here in the Midwest and warm colors are bursting everywhere. Warm colors, such as yellows, oranges and reds, are aptly termed because they remind us of warm elements like the sun and fire. Using these colors adds energy and vibrancy to a space, plus can make a large space feel more intimate (since they advance towards the viewer). These colors are great attention grabbers, so try them as a focal point too.

If you want this beautiful garden energy, think about incorporating warm colors using plants and hardscapes (non-living things like furniture, containers, structures). Something to consider: plant colors are often fleeting (like flowers), so though they can pop in the garden at times, we often can’t depend on them for the long-haul. Think about how you can incorporate your colors so they take turns (plants), plus showcase permanent items such as benches, flower pots, fences and sculpture for consistent color.

WARM COLOR INSPIRATION.

A great way to focus your garden is to wrap it up in coordinated color choices (like warm ones!). Learn more about this idea in USING COLOR THEORY IN LANDSCAPE AND GARDEN DESIGN.

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If you've designed with warm colors, then make sure to render in warm colors too! When selecting markers or colored pencils you can simplify the process by choosing mostly warm or cool colors to start. Check out this post on MARKER SWATCH SHEETS to grab a couple of suggestions for warm color combinations (the first two listed!).

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Speaking of marker swatches, here is another WARM COLOR PALETTE on Instagram.

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I am also loving this article on FIVE WAYS TO WARM A WINTER GARDEN. Such a great way to warm up when the temperatures drop.

LET'S DO THIS!

Have you been dreaming about creating a garden with a warm color scheme? A great place to start is creating a mood board. This is a curated collection of images (plants, paving, furniture and other structures) to help you start visualizing what your garden could look like. Cut images out by hand or use a program like Pinterest.

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Did you grab Monrovia's most recent planting design guide? Make sure to grab a copy. My drawings are included...that's pretty cool. 💛

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If you know someone that needs design inspiration, please feel free to share this newsletter. Anyone can subscribe right here. I also keep a VAULT of past issues in this secret location.

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Thanks for letting me visit your inbox and I look forward to seeing you again in two weeks!

🌼 With warmest regards,

Lisa

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PAPER GARDEN WORKSHOP

PS. DID YOU KNOW?

In just over two months I'll be teaching my 8-week course: Garden Graphics Tool Kit. This is a super fun opportunity to learn how to draw garden elements. I encourage you to carve out some time in early 2022 for this awesome experience. LEARN MORE HERE.