Page 69 - Panama City Living Magazine

Annette Williams on BRINGING COLOR TO THEGARDENby Jody Wood-Putnam Photography by Michael Booini“Color” is an important attribute of a garden that can create interest and bring visual appeal. It can easily be incorporated in a garden through the ad- dition of plants with colorful owers, foliage, berries, fruit, and even by using hardscape such as pots and benches. Color in the garden can bring curb appeal and attract wildlife with butter ies and humming- birds as the most visible examples. The colors used in a garden are a matter of personal preference. A feeling of energy and cheerfulness can be created using bright colors such as red and yellow while more subdued shades of white, blue, and purple can create coolness, calm, and restfulness.A Florida native and retired teacher, Annette Wil- liams has created a beautiful garden which clearly re ects her love of owers and color. She lives with husband Jimmy in a home located on a large lot di- rectly on St. Andrews Bay and spends as much time as she can out in the garden. For her, “Every day spent in the garden is a good day.”When Jimmy and Annette purchased their property in 2007, they were especially attracted to its beau- tiful mature trees including hickories, magnolias,red bays, and cherry laurels. With the construction of their house and the long driveway running the length of the lot, they preserved as many of these trees and native plants as possible, clearing under the trees and trimming the lower tree branches to make room for shade gardens. They then began the creation and continuing expansion of colorful ower and plant beds beneath the trees and in the sunny areas of their yard.Annette then initiated the search for plants that would thrive in these beds. She feels that nding plants “that work” is part of the challenge and fun of gardening. Whenever she sees a plant that she likes in the store, she tries to make a place in her garden for it. If the plant does not do well, she digs it up and relocates it. Over the years, she has created a colorful collection of beds and has successfully located a wide variety of thriving plants.FLOWERSWith a lifelong love of owers she attributes to her mother, Annette cannot name a “favorite plant,” but likes “anything that blooms.” However, she has a particular love for owering perennials as they return every year and “give you time to learn about them.”WINTER" Color” is an important attribute of a garden that can create interest and bring visual appeal."www.PanamaCityLiving.com • March - April 2018 • 69