Hello Lisa.

Welcome back to another edition of THE PENCIL CASE! 

Each issue explores a fresh theme to spark new ways of thinking about garden design and graphics. This week, we’re shining a spotlight on A FEW COLORS and how to use them thoughtfully to bring mood and meaning into your garden.

Colour is the greatest joy the garden can afford us. —Gertrude Jekyll

A FEW COLORS

Lately I’ve been thinking about color...as a way to set a mood. A few colors, used thoughtfully, can completely change how a space feels.

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Some of you might remember these color studies from past newsletters. I’ve updated them, added a few new thoughts, and moved them into the blog so they’re all in one place. Each post explores how a single color can shape a garden’s personality...with ideas for plants, accents, and simple design tips.

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Here are the first five:

The Beauty of White: fresh, timeless, and serene 

A Bit of Pink: soft, calming, and romantic

Black in the Garden: moody and dramatic

The Color Green: the quiet color that ties everything together

The Color Red: bold, vibrant, and full of energy

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This is just the start. I’d love to explore more colors soon, like yellow, blue, purple, and orange. Whether you’re drawn to soft pastels, bold primaries, or something unexpected, I hope these updated posts inspire you to look at color in a new way...and maybe try one of these palettes in your own garden.

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I’d love to hear from you: Which color are you most drawn to for your garden this year? Hit reply and let me know—your answer might inspire future posts. ♥︎

RESOURCES + RABBIT HOLES

Below are a couple of helpful links...just in case you’re ready to tumble a little further down the path.

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Color in Garden Design.  I’ve gathered a few favorite books that explore color in the garden. (These are affiliate links through Bookshop—your purchase helps support local bookstores!)

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10 x10 Garden Design Tips. This is our daily email series where we share snippets of design inspiration spanning ten overarching topics, each with ten detailed tips. That adds up to 100 days of garden design wisdom...and yes, ten of these tips focus on COLOR!

CLIPPINGS + CURIOSITIES

Not everything relates to the topic at hand, so below are a couple of random thoughts...from my sketchbook, the garden, or the day. Let's shake it up.

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Design-Related, But Barely: I’m reading Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport, and it’s got me thinking about how simplifying our digital lives can create more space for creativity. Less really can be more, both on screen and outside.

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Currently Obsessed With: Visiting sweet little nurseries like Tangletown Gardens in Minneapolis. We had a great time browsing plants, containers, books, and all kinds of garden goodies. Plus, grabbing a bite just across the street at Wise Acre Eatery was the perfect cherry on top.

Did you get a chance to read all my COLOR blog posts?

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If you know someone that needs a bit of garden 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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Wishing you bright colors and a garden full of small surprises.

From the studio + garden,

Lisa 

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PAPER GARDEN WORKSHOP

Thank you to Mandy Orgler for designing the lovely graphics in all these newsletters.