The art of adding colour to gardens

Variety of plants pictured at Hellen Wanjiru’s garden nursery located along Northern Bypass in Nairobi on January 28, 2024. 

Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group

Adding colour to your garden is more than a creative venture; it's a transformative experience. With the right flowers and plants, any outdoor space can become a breathtaking masterpiece.

For Hellen Wanjiru, this transformation is deeply personal. Her passion for nature and its healing power has inspired her to help others create vibrant outdoor spaces that not only beautify, but also soothe the soul.

"If you want a garden that really comes alive, think beyond just planting flowers. A well-designed garden is like a painting - you need contrast, depth and harmony. Colours should not only be beautiful, but also evoke emotions that make your space feel like home," says Ms Wanjiru, a gardening expert.

"Gardens are a reflection of life. Just as we need joy and vibrancy in our lives, our spaces need colour to come alive," she adds.

She believes that colour affects the mood of a garden, and that the right combination of plants can transform even the dullest corner into a sanctuary of peace and beauty.

“Warm tones such as red, orange and yellow create an energetic, lively atmosphere, while cooler shades of blue, purple and green evoke a sense of calm and tranquillity. I always tell my clients that the colours they choose should reflect their personality and how they want to feel when they walk into their garden," she says.

Hellen Wanjiru takes care of plants in her plant garden nursery located along Northern Bypass in Nairobi on January 28, 2024. 

Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group

Some clients may want a specific colour, such as yellow, while others prefer everything white. 

It also depends on the existing landscape; for example, if a garden has an abundance of green, she will advise on what colours to add.


A flower for every environment

Ms Wanjiru notes that different flowers thrive in different environments. Some do well in direct sunlight, others in partial sun or shade.

Some prefer highland conditions, while others thrive in tropical areas. Anthuriums thrive in shady and upland areas, while peace lilies, like the Heart of Jesus, thrive in cooler areas.

"Many plants also thrive in the tropics, but some have specific water requirements; for example, allamanda needs a lot of water," she says.

For those looking for bold, eye-catching displays, she says: "Imagine walking into a garden bursting with marigolds, sunflowers, zinnias and bougainvillaea. Their fiery colours ignite the landscape with energy and warmth."

Marigolds with golden and tangerine flowers create a sun-kissed carpet that glows from sunrise to sunset. Sunflowers, rising up with their bright yellow faces, seem to smile at the sky, adding height and a cheerful presence that is impossible to ignore.

Peace and solace

Zinnias, in a dazzling array of pinks, reds and oranges, fill beds with playful vibrancy, their curly petals dancing in the breeze.

Bougainvillea's cascading, paper-thin flowers drape over fences and archways in shades of magenta, crimson and coral, create an alluring, Mediterranean escape.

If peace and solace is what you're after, she says, let the garden breathe in cool, soothing tones of lavender, hydrangeas, blue salvia and violets.

"A row of lavender gently swaying in the breeze fills the air with its soothing scent, inviting you to take a deep breath and slow down. Hydrangeas, with their dreamy, spherical flowers in soft blue, lilac and blush pink, evoke a sense of quiet romance, reminiscent of a storybook secret garden. Blue salvias with delicate spikes of deep indigo create a flowing rhythm throughout the landscape, resembling tiny streams of blue cascading through green foliage," says the self-taught expert.

Tucked away in shady corners, violets with their delicate, velvety petals add a touch of magic, their deep purple shades like a whisper of twilight in a peaceful setting.

Pots sold at Hellen Wanjiru’s garden nursery located along Northern Bypass in Nairobi on January 28, 2024.

Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group

The magic in simplicity

For an elegant, timeless garden, Ms Wanjiru notes that there is a certain magic in simplicity, found in the effortless grace of a garden designed with white jasmine, peace lilies and baby's breath.

"Imagine an entrance framed by the delicate tendrils of white jasmine, its sweet fragrance filling the evening air as tiny star-shaped flowers sparkle in the moonlight. At the heart of the garden, peace lilies, with their natural ivory petals and lush green leaves, stand like graceful guards, emanating purity and peace.Scattered like pearls among the greenery, baby's breath forms soft, airy clusters that resemble a gentle mist of tiny white flowers, bringing a sense of lightness and elegance, says Ms Wanjiru.

The key is balance

“Adding colour doesn't mean overwhelming the space with too many flowers. The key is balance," she says. "Use bright, bold colours in certain areas to create focal points, then soften them with greens or neutrals. Yellow daisies under a purple jacaranda tree create a stunning contrast, while ferns and lilies paired together bring a natural rhythm to the garden."

Ms Wanjiru also encourages garden lovers to explore complementary colour combinations. "Pairing red with green, purple with yellow or blue with orange makes flowers pop. It's like nature's own colour wheel at work.

Even if you don't have a large garden, you can still bring colour into your space. "A balcony or patio can be transformed with potted plants, hanging baskets and vertical gardens," she suggests. "Try cascading ivy for walls, petunias in hanging baskets and bright herbs like basil and rosemary in pots. A small citrus tree in a corner can add both beauty and fragrance."

Behind all this splendour, Ms Wanjiru knows first-hand that gardening is not without its challenges. "Many people give up too soon because plants die or they struggle with maintenance. But patience is key. Any great garden takes time to grow," she says.

Her journey has been one of resilience. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, she ran a thriving plant business, but road improvements forced her to close. Determined to rebuild, she went back to school in 2021 and graduated in 2023.

In just five months, the trained nurse has gained a better understanding of nature and therapy. Her Sh200,000 investment in Kiambu County's flower business is a testament to dedication with a touch of passion she says runs in her family.

"Gardening has been a personal journey for me, influenced by my father and siblings who are also skilled in various professions. I focus on landscaping and advising clients on what suits their space," she says.

With the help of her one employee, her roadside space now has a variety of plants and flowers, as well as pots to enhance the beauty of the plants. She has ground covers such as lantana that come in different colours. The cost ranges from Sh20 for hedge plants like duranta and lantana to Sh30,000 for bottle palm.

 Flowers in a nursery at Hellen Wanjiru’s garden nursery located along Northern Bypass in Nairobi on January 28, 2024. 

Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group

"We have lipstick palm, which is not available in Kenya, so we have to import it and the cost can go up to Sh100,000 because of taxes. I get most of my plants from Uganda. Bismack palm from Tanzania sells for Sh7,000. I only propagate locally. For the palms, I get them from the Coastal region because they grow faster. We buy most of them from greenhouse vendors," says the 32-year-old.

Other challenges

There are also other challenges – “plants dying, theft or seasonal problems. For example, in the rainy season I can sell up to Sh10,000 in a week, but in the dry season sales drop drastically. Popular plants change with trends and customer preferences, so I have to adapt. But I keep going because I know the impact a beautiful garden can have on people's lives," she says.

For those just starting out, Ms Wanjiru's advice is simple: start small, but dream big. "Start with a few pots of flowers, a small bed or even a windowsill with flowering herbs. Observe how different plants grow, experiment with colours and textures, and most importantly, choose flowers that make you happy," she says.

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