Color to Last

Color Fast: Annuals, such as impatiens (above) provide instant, if temporary color.

"In our other house, we were so close to the neighbors that we could hear them anytime they did anything," says Barbara. "We wanted some peace and quiet, maybe a nice pond with fish to watch. But I also didn't want my garden to be just green. It had to have plenty of color."

The Denneys' new landscape is expansive—more than 6,000 square feet of terra firma—but it feels even larger, because their two-story home is pushed to one side of the lot, leaving space for an unusually large side lawn. As a result, the Denneys have two very distinct landscapes, one wide-open, public yard and another smaller, more intimate one that is close to the home's covered lanai and family room.

Barbara had anticipated that her property would need some screening from homes located on the hill above her, so on the perimeter of the "open" end of their property, she had masons construct a two-tiered stone wall, with a large planter contained in the inner wall. The infrastructure was in place. They just needed a plan.

The Denneys hired Reliable Landscaping & Sprinklers after reading about the landscaping company in an issue of Hawaii Home + Remodeling. Working with project manager Alan Gracey, Barbara submitted a short list of plants that she wanted in her landscape (black taro, hapuu ferns and annuals, such as impatiens), then Gracey showed her a collection of plants that would complete the color palette: ginger, canna lilies, red ti plants, monstera and caladeums.

One of the most important decisions in the construction of the landscape was the placement of the water feature. The trio toyed with the idea of placing a pond in the open yard, because it had the most space. But the area wasn't easily accessible from inside the home, so they decided to place the water feature on the private side of the home, between the lanai and the perimeter wall. It turned out to be a good decision.

The pond, which is stocked with five baby koi, wraps around the corner of the home's lanai and measures more than 20 feet long. Although it has a very angular layout, natural stones soften its squared-off edges. Brightly colored flowers and plants give it depth and vibrancy, while taller plants and hedges (papyrus and gardenias) provide visual interest and screening from the neighboring homes.

Providing water circulation are a babbling waterfall and a pair of springs that bubble up from hollowed-out natural stones. The resulting sound is intoxicating.

"It's just so relaxing back there," says Barbara. "After a day at work and an afternoon sitting in traffic, I just sit back there and vegetate."

Annuals and other flowering plants brighten up this Mililani Mauka water feature.

In the open end of the yard, Gracey planted a perimeter of travellers and foxtail palms, which will begin to form a graceful wall of green within a year. Within this screen, he placed hapuu ferns, monstera, ti plants and a small patch of eye-catching black taro. Throughout the landscape, Gracey sprinkled small pockets of impatiens and other annuals to maximize the color. The whole bright plant palette surrounds a large lawn of el toro zoysia.

"We're very, very happy with how things worked out. We used to go out to dinner all the time, but now we're out here barbecuing just about every night. My husband thinks he's Bobby Flay," says Barbara. "It's so relaxing out here. We just sit here, listen to the water, look at all our flowers and unwind."

It may sound odd, but creating a landscape with long-lasting color in Hawaii can sometimes get tricky. We live in the tropics, where everything is in constant bloom, so what's the problem? Well, while the weather may look like it is an endless summer, many plants still grow on a subtle seasonal cycle. In addition, Hawaii's unique microclimates are sometimes tough on delicate flowering plants.

According to Steve Dewald, of Steve's Gardening Service, there are three ways to get color in the Hawaiian garden: foliage, such as ti plants, variegated ground covers and bushes, and perennials, such as plumeria, bougainvillea and azaleas, plus annuals, such as impatiens. Foliage provides constant, year-round color, while perennials and annuals are more seasonal. However, as their name implies, annuals normally have a very limited time where they look best. Therefore, Dewald says, homeowners need to be aware of the limitations of annuals and plant them accordingly.

"I suggest that people use annuals to accent color. They're very brilliant, but they don't last long," says Dewald. "People should plant them in small pockets so that they can be easily switched out. You don't want to have whole patches of your garden to look drab or to die off."
He adds that, depending on where you live in Hawaii, annuals can live for much longer than a single year: "We've got some homes in Manoa that have impatiens that have been in their yards for years," says Dewald. "In some areas, they just thrive."

But not without a little work. According to Gary Shinn, of Hokuahi Lawns, annuals typically look great for two months, after which they slowly decline. While they still may be alive and flowering, they often also look long and spindly. Shinn suggests that homeowners "pinch back" their plants, and in a couple of weeks the flowers will be back in their full glory. "If you're willing to do the work, you can keep impatiens for as long as two years," says Shinn. "We don't use them too much in our work, more for accent touches, but nothing gives you color like those flowers."

Shinn adds that annuals are rather delicate, sensitive to high winds, excessive sunlight and salt spray. Therefore, they do poorly near the beach or high up on some of the island's mountain ridges.

Natural Bouquet: The star-shaped and clustering Pentas provides brilliant color. Although it is a perennial, it has to be regularly pruned back to provide blossoms year round.

However, homeowners can use annuals' short lifespans to their advantage. If planned correctly, they can plant an instant garden that can easily be installed according to the seasons or even a special occasion. Lilies for Easter? How about a living bouquet of flowers for Mother's Day?

"We actually will install sleeves into the ground, so potted plants can be easily inserted into the garden," says Susan Mulkern, of Water Gardens by Kevin Mulkern. "They look great instantly, and when they start to die off, you can just throw them out. They are sort of disposable plants, which doesn't sound quite right to some people, but once you understand the concept, there are a lot of possibilities."

Greg Lee, of Landscapes by Tropical Images, adds that homeowners should do their homework on annuals or any other plant that they choose for their garden. They should be aware of when and how often a flowering plant will bloom. Homeowners should also make sure that the plants are compatible with others they are selecting, and choose a variety of plants that will ensure consistent color year round.

"Do they want it year round or do they want it for three months and that's it—something like the Mainland," says Lee. "In general, flowering plants will bloom in the summer and spring and foliage will hold its color throughout the year. If they want both, they need to pick a compatible mix of plants, so they don't have any dead areas in their yards when winter rolls around."

Lee cautions that, when selecting their plant palettes, homeowners shouldn't forget to establish a consistent theme throughout their garden: tropical, contemporary Hawaii, Asian, etc. It's easy to concentrate on color and forget about the bigger picture.

"When many people think of color, they automatically focus in on flowers. But color comes in all shapes and sizes," says Lee. "We don't have the distinct growing seasons like they do on the Mainland. But we have the tropicals and we have the exotics, so we probably have a wider variety of colorful plants here. There are so many choices."