Yellow is a happy color. It exudes warmth and cheer. In the garden, it weaves its way through most seasons: striking daffodils in the spring, followed by snapdragons and sunflowers in the summer and fall.  As the blooms fade, several trees take over, dropping golden-yellow leaves in.

What’s unusual this year is the number of summer plants still in bloom.  Our deciduous trees have lost most of their leaves in time for winter solstice. I thought the snaps were done until several days of heavy rain.  Now they’re back to in soft, buttery shades of yellow.

A tomato plant still towers in the side yard, sending out tiny yellow blooms. Several pumpkin plants self-seeded and flowered as well.  Even in California, it’s unusual to see pumpkins bloom so late in the year. I’m trying to squelch my fears about global warming.  Perhaps my garden’s micro-climate is simply in sync with the menopausal gardener.

Using yellow in the garden from Sensational Color:

•  Yellow is considered a warm color in landscape design.
• Yellow’s appearance in the garden has a stimulating effect.
•  Yellow flowers come forward in the landscape, helping to make a large garden feel cozier.
•  Yellow lilies make for a bright, long blooming addition to any garden.
•  Yellow’s complimentary color in the garden is purple.

The Snapdragons returned after a heavy rain. I didn’t notice the tiny grey spider when I took the picture.

Yellow Wildflower Still Blooming

It’s mid-December. Do you know where your pumpkin flowers are?

Fruit-Loop Tree? Nope! Just three stages of an orange

Side Yard Tomato

Fruit Cocktail Tree Leaves

The Color Yellow:

• Color Psychology
• Vincent Van Gogh, master of yellow
• Sensational Color, my go-to site for color theory and ideas