Our gardens are influenced by contemporary color trends. A few years ago, chartreuse plants were very popular. Now black ones are in the spotlight as well.

Several groups are influential when it comes to the colors we see. These organizations include the Color Marketing Group and the Pantone Color Institute. They decide what the color palettes will be and issue color predictions for the year. Those colors will then appear in diverse products from textiles for home décor and fashion to flower pots.

For 2006, blue will be seen in one of its many forms. Moody Blue Infusion pairs the deep blue seen in denim with emerald green and deep turquoise. One way gardeners could achieve such an effect is by decorating flower pots with mosaics in those colors. You could also use glass chips, crystals, or garden tiles in such shades.

Blue is an interesting color because of its history. Since ancient times, this has been very symbolic for its power to keep away the ‘evil eye.’ This is one reason that blue was frequently used in architecture. It is still seen in buildings in parts of Spain, Greece, Egypt, Morocco, and in Arab countries.

For 2006, experts predict a range of color trends, which include the widespread use of botanicals, earth tones and caramels.

The names of colors can change from year to year. Sometimes, they’re named for fruits, herbs, flowers, or vegetables. An example would be licorice and lilac ash for 2006.

The names of colors can be intriguing. For 2006, we have Bacchara Infusion named for the Bacchara rose. This features deep reds tempered with red. Some of the 2006 colors reflect opulence, such as Plum Infusion, which is a rich, sophisticated combination of lilac, purple, and plum that is serene and regal.

Color is one way we can achieve unity between the indoors and outdoors. This is easy enough to accomplish if you have a patio, deck, or porch.

Use the same color for these as you do in adjacent rooms, such as the sunroom or kitchen. For example, the color you select could be used outdoors in flowers, pots, garden furniture, and other garden accents.