29th January 2026 • The HERALD • Page 55 v INDEPENDENT, LOCAL AND PROUD v DOWN THE GARDEN PATH RYAN FENCING Quality Fencing & Gates 07769 706516 • 023 8084 1203 www.ryan-fencing.co.uk • Find us on Facebook A J GLEESON BUILDING & GROUNDWORK DRIVEWAYS EXTENSIONS BRICKWORK GROUNDWORK BLOCK PAVING Colours & Designs to suit your requirements Local Work Available to View CALL FOR A FREE QUOTATION New Forest & Southampton 023 8084 4180 Mobile: 07770 771475 Bramdene, Main Road, Dibden, Southampton HOW TO ELEVATE YOUR GARDEN USING PANTONE’S COLOUR OF THE YEAR FOR 2026, ‘CLOUD DANCER’ Advice from Haskins Garden Centre’s in-house plant expert Alasdair Urquhart Planting owers that bring a touch of o -white establishes a sense of calm to the garden and allows structure and texture to take the lead. e understated tone of ‘Cloud Dancer’ re ects a shi towards simplicity and balance, making it a natural t for garden design. It works across a wide range of garden styles and is particularly e ective when layered with di erent shades of green. e start of the year is a good time to step back and reassess how your garden feels. A lighter planting palette can refresh a space with a so glow while not appearing too stark. It’s a particularly enlightening feature of garden designs when combined with foliage plants and gentle contrasts that allow the lighter colours to pop. White owers also work hard in the garden. ey brighten shaded areas, so en busy borders, and re ect light nicely during the cool of the evenings. When used well, o -white owers help bring planting schemes together to act as one, rather than having di erent owers competing for attention. Annuals for quick impact Annuals are ideal for adding lighter tones to designs without making long-term changes. White petunias, white zonal geraniums, and white begonia varieties are suitable for containers, hanging baskets, and window boxes. For a more relaxed look, white cosmos add height and movement. Perennials to shape the garden Perennials give gardens structure year a er year, and o - white varieties work well to unify borders. I recommend the Hellebore ‘Christmas Carol’ as a good option for adding colour in winter and early spring. White Japanese anemones can also extend your garden’s interest later in the season when your other plants begin to fade. Another option is Lily of the Valley, which suits shaded areas and o ers delicate owers with gentle fragrance. Agapanthus ‘Bridal Bouquet’ or ‘Silver Baby’ also add architectural interest and perform well in both borders and pots, making them versatile choices. Shrubs for year-round presence To anchor lighter planting schemes in gardens, shrubs are essential for providing shape beyond the owering season. Rose ‘Iceberg’ is a reliable choice as it owers freely over a long period. Choisya varieties also work well, including ‘Green ngers’, and ‘White Dazzler’. ese add scented owers and fresh foliage, making them valuable additions to mixed borders. Climbers to soften vertical spaces Climbers play an important role in tying gardens together. Clematis armandii, Clematis x cartmanii, and Clematis montana grandi ora introduce o -white owers at di erent times of year and help so en walls and fences. Trachelospermum jasminoides o ers evergreen otherwise known as a Peace Lily, is a classic houseplant with clean white owers and glossy foliage that create a calm feel inside the home, linking indoor spaces with the garden. By integrating a thoughtful mix of annuals, perennials, shrubs, and climbers over the course of 2026, gardeners can use Pantone’s colour of the year in a way that feels natural, elegant, and easy to live with. coverage and highly fragrant white owers, making it well suited to pergolas, trellis, and sheltered walls. Bringing the look indoors If you’re a er houseplants instead, the ‘Cloud Dancer’ palette works just as well indoors. Spathiphyllum, Trachelospermum jasminoides Japanese anemones
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