If you’ve followed this blog you know I love blue in the garden. Can’t deny it, can’t escape it.

And “true” blue is a hue that I find  absolutely irresistible. Thus, it likely will always play into my garden color scheme.

This year is no exception.

But, I have flipped the script a bit with my companion colors. Orange, which was a minor presence last year, will assume a dominant role, and, I’m also exploring black as a primary tone.

I do realize that “black” is perhaps even more elusive than “true” blue in flowering plants, so when I say black, that translates into extremely dark purples, burgundies and browns. Flowers which, in essence, give the illusion of black.

This thought process began to take shape when I pulled out the cache of seeds that I keep tucked away in a closet. Every year, before I order more, I see what has accumulated in this leftover bin.

Some were duplicate purchases, some I bought then decided they wouldn’t work in my container garden, some I got as free gifts with an order, and some I just bought on impulse because they caught my eye. This year, for the first time, I have seeds that I collected and saved from last season’s garden to sort through, as well.

Among this mass of misfits was a pack of black nemophilia seeds. I believe they came free with purchase a couple years back. Staring at that package and trying to figure out how I would blend this lone hue subliminally into my expected color palette, it hit me… Why not go bold? I’d find a few more “black” seeds and move this vibrant choice from the background to center stage.

So there you have it: blue, orange and black will be the theme for this summer’s balcony garden. I’ll also grow a couple of pastel-toned flowering plants to keep on hand as filler to soften these strong, saturated colors, if needed.

Sound like a plan? Well, I need to get my seeds ordered this week, so I’d love to get your suggestions for black or near-black flowers to include in my garden. Let me know if you’ve found one that performed beautifully or one that’s more trouble than it’s worth.

Also, give me your favorite oranges and your “truest” blues. I’ll let you know in a future post which plants I decide on.

[photos: lobelia (top) and nasturtium]