Seasonal Color

June 6, 2019

Share this Article:

A bunch of colorful flowers are sitting on top of each other on a table.

A well-designed landscape provides seasonal interest year-round. Our Midwest weather dictates the plants and elements we can choose to deliver ever-changing colors and textures. Properly selected plants during the appropriate seasons can vary from subtle color combinations to vibrant contrasting pizzazz. Spring, summer, fall and even winter displays are possible in your landscape with some careful planning and an eye for design. A seasonal cycle of budding flowers, blooming petals, and lush greenery remind us of the wonders that nature has to offer. 



Timing is Everything

As summer finally arrives and the proverbial threat of frost has passed, planting summer annuals becomes a high priority during late May and early June, for homeowners and industry professionals alike. Planting now before the summer heat arrives is optimal to allow your plants to become established and well-rooted. Color and texture combinations for use in containers and ground beds are endless. One can’t help but notice the artistry portrayed in the amazing displays created by seasonal color professionals.



Color for every season

As the term “annual flower” indicates, seasonal color is defined as: new plantings installed every season to achieve the desired appearance. Unlike perennial flowers, annuals are removed at the end of a particular season to be replaced with the next season’s selection.


A typical four-season rotation provides vibrant early spring color using bulbs and cold-hardy annuals which are replaced with warmer weather summer flowers around Memorial Day. Spring bulbs give us early color that peek through the snow while most plants are still in dormancy.

The summer palette of flowers opens the imagination to clusters of vibrant colors to captivate onlookers. Selection of summer annual flower varieties and colors has increased tremendously with flower growers’ research and improvements in propagation techniques.

A lamp post with hanging baskets of flowers on it
A garden with flowers and a fountain in the background

As the summer wanes, fall mums, kale, and cold-hardy pansies replace the cold sensitive summer plants until next year. Autumn displays coordinate with the natural native plants to bring a beautiful transition to the season ahead. 

Winter interest has become popular by providing arrangements of cut evergreen boughs, colorful cut branches from red dogwoods and curly willow, accented with pinecones and white birch branches and stems.

A couple of potted plants with red and white flowers

We are here to help


We have heard that color captures the imaginations, soothes and heals, and lifts our spirits. At Night Light, we partner with some of the most creative landscape professionals that offer seasonal color design for residential and commercial properties alike. If you would like some help with a seasonal color program, click here to send an inquiry to our referral portal.

Share with Us:

Two children are sledding down a snow covered hill.
November 16, 2021
It’s hard to believe another season is coming to a close. November is a month of change. Trees change color and lose their foliage, temperatures drop below freezing forcing our plants to hibernate, and daylight hours minimize the daytime spent outdoors.
A fire pit with chairs around it in a backyard at night.
October 18, 2021
Don’t let these shorter days and cooler temperatures spoil your outdoor living fun. Some of the best times are yet to be had this fall as we gather outdoors with family and friends.
A wooden pergola with a swing underneath it
September 23, 2021
Cooler temperatures, shorter days, back to school, and football fever signal the beginning of Autumn and a reduced focus on outdoor living. But before you fire up that snow blower, let’s enjoy the crisp autumn evenings gathered around the fire pit rooting for your favorite team and recalling this past summer.
Share by: