The modest Rose puts forth a thorn
The humble sheep a threatening horn
While the Lily white shall in love delight
Nor a thorn nor a threat stain her beauty bright.
William Blake, 18th c. poet
William Blake certainly must have appreciated the powers of a lily clothed in white, but we need not limit ourselves to the purity of a white lily blossom... our senses can be excited by a wide variety of characteristics that place lilies amongst the royalty in the world of flowering plants and today I'm considering how they affect our sense of sight. The psychology of colors may not be consistent from one society to another, but color does certainly affect the moods and lives of humans. The white lilies perhaps provide a sense of well being and calm while symbolizing innocence and purity... something many of us pine for as we mature and come to realize that the hectic pace of our lives has stolen something of our youth.
Lilies in darker hues may provide a sense of grander moments and sophistication... reds in particular may intensify our emotions and passions... exciting us as we observe them in the garden...
Pinks are calming in effect... they tranquilize as we view them in the garden, providing a sense of well-being...
Yellows can be considered attention getters... exciting us and making our hearts beat faster. For many, the use of yellows can be overdone in the gardens and certainly there is a pronounced difference in the hues of yellows, especially in the world of lilies. When it comes to color and our sense of sight, there basically two areas of receptors present. The first has to do with color and the second has to do with brightness. Personally I can find bright yellows very exhausting if overused in a garden; this is not to say that I never go for the effect, but I do try to use them with some level of caution.
Combining yellows with harsher tones of scarlets and reds is extremely common in the orienpet hybrids that are becoming increasingly available... these gorgeous plants may need careful placement depending on the gardener's preferences in terms of color and the accompanying statement created by the plantings...
Then too, our sense of sight is appreciative of more than just the colors of lilies. Consider our human need for design and order in our lives. Gaze upon the aurelian trumpets in the photo below.... the design is flawless in its simplicity and concurrently, its grandeur. The aurelians were almost certainly the catalyst for the favrille and bronze lily lamps of Louis Comfort Tiffany... intellectually, the vertical spires of the lily plant may satisfy a need experienced by gardeners for order and design.
As gardeners we have great power at our command... we are able to manipulate the emotions of ourselves and others in powerful ways. Essentially, by our choices we can create a sense of restfulness that quiets a man's very soul or we can create an overwhelming sense of turmoil and stress. It's the visual aspects of design, texture, and color that are on the front line when it comes to creating our gardens. Lilies can be a big part of what we strive to create... however, the beauty of lilies doesn't stop at color or the architectural qualities of these amazing plants...
More next time, Larry
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