Many dark red roses look terribly romantic and also nearly black. Gargoyles make the perfect guardians of your garden.

With the remainder of the semester rapidly dwindling and the forecast finally confirming that it’s spring, many people are finally enjoying going outdoors, instead of suffering the Wisconsin weather. It’s that time of year again – we can finally look forward to the summertime and also summer gardening.

If you find yourself stuck in a rut, not wanting to turn to the same flower or vegetable garden year after year, consider planting a theme garden. Here are some tips for popular themes and corresponding plants and outdoor décor. (If you are shopping for seeds online, Milwaukee, Racine and Waukesha counties are zone 5 on the hardiness scale.)

Gothic
Gothic gardening is now more popular than ever for those who prefer to plant on the dark side. While there is not an abundance of truly black flowers, many are close to black, and blood red and violet tones are also appropriate.

Many dark red roses look terribly romantic and also nearly black. Gargoyles make the perfect guardians of your garden.

Another approach is cultivating a moon garden, in which the flowers are white to reflect the moonlight. Reveal your nocturnal side by featuring a moondial in the garden’s center.

Recommended plants: bleeding heart, purple snapdragon, dark purple pansy, moonflower

Irish
Students studying Irish history or Gaelic may enjoy tending a garden that calls to mind the old country. One simple approach is to focus on the Irish flag colors: orange, white and green.

Plant half white and half orange flowers. Use large shrubs to take the green factor over the top.

In addition to the blossoms, turn to Celtic spirituality for help with the layout – make your garden circular, with four boulders on the edge dividing the circle into quarters. For added excitement, use rocks to build a small fire pit so all of the four elements are represented – earth, water, wind and fire.

Recommended plants: zinnia, impatiens, marigold

Religious (Marian, angel)
A garden can be a great place for reflection, even more so when religious elements are purposely incorporated into the design. Marian gardens are very popular among Catholic gardeners, and many beautiful statues in a range of sizes and prices are readily available. Roses, as the chief flower associated with Mary, would be lovely, but if they seem too intimidating, there are plenty of beginner’s flowers also associated with the Madonna. For a more generically spiritual garden, consider choosing entirely white flowers along with angelic statues and fountains for a truly heavenly experience.

Recommended plants: rose, marigold, lily, passion flower

Butterfly
These flying flowers add ambiance to your yard, so plant this garden in a spot that is sunny and easy to view. Certain plants produce nectar that is more pleasing to butterflies than others and some make lovely munchies for caterpillars. These flying flowers will also appreciate a shallow water dish. Butterfly feeders may also be purchased to supplement the flowers.

Recommended plants: zinnia, violets, clover, black-eyed Susan

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