• Garden in small spaces is in.Giant landscapes are out.
  As lot sizes shrink and people downsize their homes, consumers are gardening more in less space, on patios and decks, on rooftops and, of course, in containers. Vertical gardening is in, growing either up or down from balconies or on patios.
  
  
• Home grown is in. Fast food is out.
  Reflecting society’s current enthusiasm for healthy eating and a desire for fresh, flavorsome fruits and vegetables, vegetable gardening is coming back en vogue. Herbs and veggies are being grown alone or mixed in containers. Growing your own vegetables, flowers and herbs is new status symbol of luxury. It is a luxury of the heart that says, "I care, and I make the time to do it." When a child learns where his food comes from, he is better equipped to make healthy food choices.
  
  
• Indoor living color is in. Plant-less houses are out.
  Ferns, snake plants and palms aren’t for your grandmother’s parlor any longer. Homes are being filled with houseplants. Many houseplants do double duty: indoors during cold weather where they add living color and clean the air; and then moved outside to decorate the deck or patio in the summer. For many people their first introduction to gardening is tending to a houseplant in college or in their first apartment. Plants are adorning desks in offices more than ever before and improving the beauty and reducing stress in the workplace!
  
  
• Safe gardening is in. Mindless, reckless gardening is out.
  In keeping with the healthy living trend, consumers are seeking sustainable gardening principles. As a result, there is a shift to get plants off chemicals (i.e. Miracle Gro) and on a healthier, holistic lifestyle. This includes using organic fertilizers in the garden and on the lawn, mulching with compost, encouraging a healthy soil 'food web', and using safe pest controls. All of this means stronger and healthier plants, and less work for you!

There were other trends, but these were the most interesting.

Lastly Pantone came out with its annual Color Forecast. I always am interested in this, and if you are into home and gardening you probably are too.

PANTONEView Home 2007 is a forecasting tool that provides color and trend inspiration, enabling designers to select the right shades and combinations when creating products for the home, garden or matching and coordinating home interiors. You can use these colors too, they aren't just for designers.

The most directional color palettes for 2007 are Simply Elegant, Classic Chic, Lumens, Mélange, Aux Naturale, Grass Roots, Fresh Air and Light Touch.

Simply Elegant: is a prime example of the marriage of tradition and modern day, the continuing eclectic approach where new technologies, especially in fabrication, finishes and styling, adeptly enable (and encourage) the use of unexpected mixes and textures. Color treatments are equally unique in beautiful blends of mahogany silvered mink, silvery blues, elegant purples and deep bronzed tones set off by the glint of pale gold, frosty almond and copper.

Classic Chic: invokes both neo-classic and newly classic - the always in style, tasteful tones and timeless lines that promise lasting value. Gray provides a real presence in both light and deeper tones, while the sister shade of silver and a lustrous champagne add a glamorous sparkle. A mineralized yellow and a sensuous red bring a ripple of excitement to cappuccino brown. A classic palette would not be complete without the ubiquitous yang and yen of black and white, often used with the cappuccino colors.

Luminous: finishes, shiny or slightly de-lustered surfaces, and technically correct lighting (both dramatic and low key) all reflect the sleek simplicity of uncluttered lines interspersed with multi-faceted hues. Lumens includes the dazzling water-borne blues, jewel-like emerald or opaline greens, ultra violet, vibrant rose, metallic silver and the piercing clarity of bright white.

Melon apricot, strawberry and orange, Mélange is an assortment of tantalizing shades guaranteed to stimulate the visual appetite. In addition to the warm fruit flavors, and feeding the need for fresh, vital combinations, there is a toasty tan, a vibrant poppy red, a vivacious yellow, a balancing blue - all well grounded by a rustic khaki.

Aux Naturale: spawns a variety of so-called organic colors, especially those that seem to have an unbleached quality. The most important shades are creamy whites, sandy beiges, essential tans, taupes, gray and mellow browns accented by subtly shaded roses, lily pad green and the ultimate color of integrity, a denim-like blue.

Grass Roots: looks to indigenous crafts and materials that bring a regional flavor to products or environments. Some of those regions might be far-flung while some are much closer to home. In reality, while some of the products may be mass produced, they look as if they are hand hewn, hand-loomed or individually crafted. Grass Roots starts with the variations on a green theme, moves on to mineral blue and various wood tones that are enhanced by unexpected mixes including grape, rose and terra cotta.

Fresh Air: Certainly the spontaneity of the stylized designs and finishes mixed into this palette is truly like a breath of "Fresh Air," where woven twines may meet with metallic sheens and smooth resins are coupled with textured leathers. Color combinations are equally inventive, for example, green pesto, vibrant yellow and yellow-greens combining artfully with cyclamen pink, purples and violets, sky blues and snow whites.

Light Touch: suggests a soft impression - the deft use of softer colors that speak of quiet spaces in an increasingly noisy world. For many people, it is a comfort zone to return to again and again. The challenge is how to keep it looking up-to-date. Modernizing a pastel palette can be skillfully and easily done by re-inventing the colors and the color combinations. Take the classic pastels of foamy aquas and greens, pinks and lavenders, powdery blues, sun-tinged yellows and angora whites to the next level by infusing them with a touch of champagne, or by introducing the sophistication of a silvery gray or rosy taupe.

Conclusion:

Overall, 2006 has been a fast-paced and incredible year. I have enjoyed every minute of it and I hope you have too. I look forward to hearing from more of you throughout the year with questions and comments, and I think the 2007 growing contests will be great. We will be adding a few more contest sections, so stay tuned!

That's it for 2006 - See you next year in 2007!

Hilary A. Rinaldi
Owner / Editor
Weekend Gardener Web Magazine

Hilary's Email: hilary@weekendgardener.net