Trend Tulips planted in combination with perennials, shrubs, trees and grasses that have been selected for their interesting foliage and texture which extends the period of interest for the planting beyond blooming period.
At the 4 Seasons Garden black Darwin hybrid tulip Queen of the Night has been given the background of a young Cornus alternafolia.
Still at the 4 Seasons Garden Bright lemon yellow lily shaped tulips combined with fescue Golden toupe works with the soft textured finely cut silver leaves of fern-leafed yarrow (Achillea filipendula) and the strap shaped muted olive green leaves of the phormium.
An interpretion of the Romantic Trend can be seen with this monochromatic drift of mauve and pink created at Government House through the combining of a pink tulip together with Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve' or shrubby wallflower. Bowles Mauve is a plant that meets the trend of long-blooming period since in the mild Victoria climate it blooms a minimum of seven to eight months!
Returning to the 4 Season Garden we have the combination of daphne retusa with its fragrant pink and white bi-coloured blooms, the colour design potential of bi-coloured blooms have made them another trend.. Echoing these blooms are deep purple and white tulips with the whole scene softened by the texture of the Stipa tenuissima (Mexican Feather Grass) which will continue to provide movement to this planting throughout the summer and fall.
Staying at the 4 Season Garden we see another trend, that of using as multi-coloured species such as this red tulip with cream edges that is in front of a planting of Polygonatum falcatum ‘Variegatum' or Variegated Japanese Solomon's Seal and our native maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum-Northern Maidenhair Fern)-see trends Native Plants.