The many shades of green

RE “Like Apples to Emeralds” [Dec. 29]: Just had to thank you for a glorious experience!

I am a longtime home gardener, and lately have been moving plants around, more or less “intuitively,” thinking of what goes where in terms of sun, moisture, etc.

The story was a real eye-opener, aesthetically and scientifically.

SARA MERIC

Santa Monica

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MORE than 30 years ago I saw my first rice paddy shimmering in Bali’s morning light. Coming from the corn and soybean fields of Minnesota I had seen many shades of green, but ever since that rice paddy I have been a connoisseur of green.

I have lived for 20 years in the temporarily flooded but always green redwood forests in Guerneville in Sonoma County. Between the multitude of ferns, redwoods, bays, tan oaks, lilies, sorrel and their friends, I always have some greens to keep my eyes rested.

I have occasionally made planting mistakes, but the microclimate and my predilection for nature’s watering patterns serve to cull the less appropriate plant material.

Native columbine and cineraria hint to me that their more floral cousins might thrive. The tendency of foxglove to go wildly native smacks me upside the head that here, indeed, is the dramatic statement the natural forest will not produce, but will tolerate and shelter.

The beautifully written piece reminded me of all the right ways to make choices in the garden.

DAVE ROBERTS

Guerneville, Calif.

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WHAT a pleasure it is to read about the spectrum of green that exists in the garden.

It was very well researched and illustrated.

I think that texture is just as important in the garden as color and there are so many ways to create a garden by using the right combinations.

TOM GIVVIN

Marina del Rey

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I enjoyed Emily Green’s piece and the work of illustrator Sarah Wilkins.

A nice related experience for your readers would be a trip to the Irvine Museum to view “Plant Portraits,” a joint exhibition by Irvine and the San Diego Natural History Museum, running from Jan. 25 through March 25. The artist is a Californian, A.R. Valentien.

CAROL SMITH

Fullerton