The Seasonal Walk Saga, april 23
By Tovah Martin
Careful Composition
The scene is incredibly carefully wrought. Granted, at first glance, the tulips steal the show. The pearly ‘White Triumphator’, ‘Purissima’, ‘Shirley’ and ‘Flaming Purissima’ play off the brighter pink ‘Page Polka’ and ‘Dallas’, while also moderating the salmon ‘Beauty Queen’ and coral ‘Pink Diamond’. But it’s the deep magenta/purple ‘Attila’ that gives the whole composition definition and calls in the foliar colors of the perennials, especially the blush purple Sedum telephium ‘Xenox’. Plus, the narcissus circles are in high gear, with white ‘Thalia’ and peachy ‘Pink Charm’ clustered together. In the circles, the larger daffodils serve as strong repeating elements. At the same time, several smaller-cupped narcissus – ‘Segovia’, ‘Sailboat’, ‘Ice Wings’, and ‘Cotinga’ – in whites and creams are scattered through the beds, creating subtle variations in color. So pink sings harmony, white gives the beat, and a touch of yellow – from ‘Little Gem’ still holding firm – is the complement that ties it all together.
