This year's Pantone "
color of the year" has been on my mind lately. It's "Cloud Dancer," or ... white. As many folks have noted, white is actually the
absence of color and it seems like a funny choice. With that said, white makes all colors near it "pop." Of course, that's obvious, and I've
posted about it in the past. But it's been a couple of years since we've had a consistently "white" landscape here in winter.
Fresh snow makes every color around it appear more vibrant!
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| Japanese Yew (Taxus Cuspidata) |
The greens and reds of conifers stand out in the winter landscape, although that happens even without snow and blue sky.
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| Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) |
Red-Twig Dogwoods are much more dramatic after a fresh snow.
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| White Oak (Quercus alba) |
But even the warm, rusty colors of Oak leaves are brighter and more eye-catching framed with white.
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| Spent Aster seedheads |
Empty Aster seedheads sparkle like bright and cheerful stars.
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| Dried grasses |
Dried grasses and sedges, barely noticeable without snow, are so colorful blanketed in white!
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| Mixed shrub stems |
Even multihued shades of brown stems are much more warm and rich with color when surrounded by "Cloud Dancer."
Maybe this was a goal for this "color of the year" selection—to highlight all the true colors? Regardless, I appreciate the role of white in nature's palette!
With that, I wish you a very Happy New Year! Vist
Garden Ruminations for more "Six on Saturday" entries.
(Most observations were recorded at local parks and natural areas.)
