Crafty In Cobb

Do you enjoy tropical greenery? Would you like you turn your backyard into a personal oasis? This is easily done by adding loads of plants. Hostas and elephant ears are ideal for a tropical feel. They grow in all kinds of climates and can become fairly large. Better yet, they're perennials and will return year after year. If you'd like to present a tropical attitude with your home décor, here's a palette that may suit your taste. Vivid yet easy on the eyes, these greens will transform your deck, living room or any other area into a luxurious retreat! Colors by Behr.

Azaleas give so much color and so many varieties of it. These hardy shrubs are part of the Rhododendron family and come in over 10,000 types ( www.gardenguides.com ). The colors range from white to barely there pink to show-stopping bold purple. You can grow them in your garden or in large planters, depending on their maximum size. If you do grow them in a planter read up on the plant first to make sure the roots don't need a lot of depth. Photo Credit: Summer Casual Azaleas thrive in warm climate. Some varieties are evergreen and will keep most of their leaves in winter. Some are not and will lose leaves. Before you plant take note of how much sun they will receive. Azaleas prefer shade with filtered light over direct sun. They also need well-draining soil. If your area has a lot of clay in the soil you will want to mix in some small stones and sand when planting to help establish the shrub. Here's a pretty list of colorful azaleas and their photos. All are available at t

1. Always start with black and white sketches . Don’t complicate form with color. 2. Choose your colors wisely. Use color to communicate your messages clearly. 3. Read about Color Interaction to learn how colors effect each other. 4. Don’t assume you know everything about color. There’s always more to learn. 5. Understand that color trends change. Stay on top of these changes. 6. Learn from art history . Study the works of the great artists and designers  of the world. 7. Learn from theater, television, computer games and the world around you. Take note of how color is used in these environments. 8. Do not fear color. Rather, enjoy color. 9. Use color to infuse your work with enthusiasm .