Natanya,

I have found wonderful combinations accidentally, and have tried things that I was sure would be wonderful and the final result was YECH!!!

For what it is worth, these are my two approaches to planning my DL gardens:

NEW PLANTS: I take the time to download at least one picture of every daylily that I have ordered (OK, may be a copyright problem, but I am only using them for my own use to plan my gardens, so I don't feel guilty about it). I then print all of the pictures out in minature using window's proof sheet option (indcludes names with images). Then I write the height on the corner of each of the proof pictures, cut them all apart, and build my garden by what looks best together. I still end up having to do a bit of moving as the pictures aren't always true, and neither are the heights, but it's a pretty good start.

THIS time of year, I walk the garden with a notepad and make note of what works, what doesn't, what might(being daylilies, it won't kill you to pick one from one side of the yard and walk it to the other to see if two blooms work together...after all, it would be gone tomorrow anyway!

Put it all together at the end of the season, and you have a plan for next year.

Not a perfect method, but works well for me.

Good luck!

Julie

Oh, I empathize with you.

My trouble is that in my hurry to get things planted I put them where ever I have prepared planting space and I never take my notes (disorganized) to the garden with me so I end up putting the short ones in the back. I now have some 18" planted last year that, of course are even shorter on maiden bloom, and I can't see them behind other perennials that grew taller than expected.

In other cases I have put things that looked short with trimmed foliage right in front of sprinkler heads.

Even with notes I'd be hard pressed to get it right. I just can't imagine spacial proportions w/o a visual reference. Add to that we don't get height here consistent with most registrations due to climate differences. If the plants aren't full grown & in bloom I'm just not going to place them well.

Julie, you are amazingly organized! I'm going to use your tip about taking notes of what needs to change for next year. I'm sure I would forget until it is too late otherwise.

I can totally understand ordering 50 daylilies!

Sometimes color combos are just a trial and error type of thing. Luckily, you can always move a plant if you think it looks strange in its current location.

I like to take close-up photos of the flowers in our garden, and just mix and match the photos until the colors look "right" together. If I want to do this before planting, I use the "internet method" that rarejem suggested above.

One method I like to use for color combos in our garden is pairing blooms with softer pastel colors closer to each other, and the blooms with brighter or more vivid colors together, at at distance away from the softer shades. This helps keep the bright blooms from visually overpowering the softer-colored blooms.

Also, for multi-colored blooms like daylilies, I like to pick one color in the bloom, like a yellow throat, and play it off another flower that has yellow in it.

For example, your Jock Randall would probably look good next to the Agamemnon. The bright yellow of the Agamemnon would play off the yellow throat of the Jock Randall, and they are both bright enough that one won't "drown the other out" visually.

I think your Waiting for Peace, Tangerine Horses, and Agamemnon would make a nice group, since the tangerine color in the Tangerine Horses would highlight the tangerine-colored petal edge of the Waiting for Peace, and the yellow of the Agamemnon would play off the yellow throats of the Waiting for Peace, giving the grouping a little "punch" color-wise.

Another group that might look nice together might be the Lady Liz, Tangerine Horses, Waiting for Peace, and Agamemnon all together since their softer range of colors all harmonize together, with the Agamemnon giving the group a little burst of bright color.

Last but not least, I would avoid the Lady Liz and the Jock Randall together, because the brick red of the Jock Randall and the soft rose color of the petals of the Lady Liz clash to me.

I don't know what Tangible Distinction looks like, so wouldn't know what to tell you about that one. But if it looks similar to Waiting for Peace, it would probably look good with the Tangerine Horses and the Agamemnon.

These are just the color combos that look good to me personally. Some people get into all kinds of rules about color combos in the garden, and using a color wheel and stuff, but I just go with what looks the most natural and peaceful to me I guess. Sounds like you have some good visual instincts because you know something looks "not right". I would try taking some photos of your daylilies, or use the "internet method", and just play around with the pictures and see what combos look good to you.

Hope this helps!

Thanks so much everyone. I do have quite a few soft pinks and creams that I didn't know what to pair with.
Trial and error seems to be my method.
Thanks again!

Natanya,
I do what Julie does, but usually electronically in word. I just take little thumbnails of what I have and then move them all around until I see the combos I like. Really helps me see what is what.

Some color things I have learned - brights with brights, pastels with pastels with the exception of yellow with pastels and white with brights.

Keep in mind that if you can play with colors like: a flower with a yellow throat next to a yellow self, it makes them both pop. Same with things for eyes - purple eye and purple daylilies next to them compliment each other.