Use Flowers and Stones to Create Words in Garden Areas

I have often thought that the type of plants a gardener grows in their garden represents the type of person they are. For example, if a gardener plants vegetables, I see them as industrious and resourceful. If another gardener plants herbs, they appear to me to be mystical, while another who plants flowers appears as fun loving. Moreover, a gardener who plants all three is versatile and not afraid to take chances. Sometimes gardeners will display garden objects such as stones or garden decorations with cute words or phrases that tell you what type of characteristics they possess. However, there are other ways for gardeners to express their feelings and traits. One way is by creating words in their gardens using flowers, stones and bushes.

Like black or blue ink on white paper, a gardener only needs two different colors of a particular plant or stone to make words. A high contrast between the two types will make the word(s) more noticeable. An example of this would be white and purple petunias or dark brown and white stones.

If you want to add words to your garden, you first need to come up with the word or phrase and a design. The design can be a small sketch on a piece of paper or a full size template. Measure the garden area you will be working in order to get the correct dimensions for you template. Recycle old newspapers to make your template letters. Cut the letters out and place them on the garden area. Arrange the letters how you want them and then trace around them in the soil using a hoe or garden trowel.

If you are planting flowers, dig up the soil area where you traced the letter and plant only one color of flower. Plant a different color flower around the letters to make the flowers in the letters stand out. The more of a contrast between the two flower colors, the more the letters will be visible.

If you are using stones instead of flowers, you will use the same process above only you will not need to dig up any of the soil. You will simply lay the stones on top. You may want to leave the newspaper letters or put down some form of weed barrier, as this will help prevent weed growth.

I do not recommend tall flowers or bushes, because they can become too tall and fall over into the contrasting flowers area. Vines are also not a good choice.

A small hill or mound of dirt makes an excellent area to display your words or phrases.

Source: Personal experience, Ozark Folk Center