Chapter 2 Gardens Full of Colour

The Central Experimental Farm

Portrait of Isabella Preston drawn inside an orange-toned sculpted medallion.

In my garden, there are red, yellow, blue flowers—and many more. I love watching them grow and create a beautiful, colourful setting.
What about you? Do you have a favourite colour?

In this colouring illustration, three flowerbeds are filled with a variety of flowers. Straight grassy paths run between the three rows of flowerbeds, allowing people to walk through. The central flowerbed in the foreground is dense with many flowers. The flowerbed on the right features bushes and a mix of flowers. On the left, there are a few trees and shrubs. In the background, a house is partially hidden among trees and large blooming flowers.In this watercolour of the Ornamental Gardens at the Central Experimental Farm, the three flowerbeds are filled with colourful blooms. The central bed features yellow, purple, and pink flowers. In fact, the sunflowers are so tall they hide a brown house in the background. A row of green-leaved trees borders the right-hand bed, while green shrubs and leafy trees dominate the one on the left.
The colour palette used:
  • Prairie Green
  • Sage Green
  • Emerald Green
  • Soft Green
  • Neon Green
  • Yellow
  • Brown
  • Raspberry
  • Mauve
  • Taupe
  • Wine Red
  • Sky Blue
  • Ebony Brown
  • Turquoise
  • Ochre

Colourful Gardens

The colours of ornamental plants are especially beautiful at the Experimental Farm. After all, these plants are grown for their visual appeal. Their shape, colour, and fragrance all contribute to their charm.


I conduct experiments on these plants to help them thrive here. To do that, my colourful flowerbeds are carefully arranged. I know exactly where each plant is located. This helps me identify them and makes my observations easier. My open-air laboratory is well organized, which is essential for my work!
 

Perennials
In this photograph, a grassy path separates two flowerbeds. The one in the background features a variety of brightly coloured plants, with yellow, orange, and purple tones dominating. The flowerbed in the foreground is filled with delphiniums bearing vibrant violet blossoms.

The blooming of irises, peonies, delphiniums, or lilacs is a sign that my experiment is a success! The purples, reds, pinks, blues, and yellows in my gardens bring me so much joy!


I also share my successes with gardeners, horticulturists, and botanists across the country. That way, the colours of my hybrids spread far and wide. I love being able to contribute to the science behind the beauty of flowers.
 

Delphinium (Larkspur)
Close-up photograph of three delphinium plants

Hello!

The standard version is more interactive and immersive but may present some accessibility barriers. The alternative version is the opposite: less interactive, less immersive, and less likely to pose accessibility challenges.

Alternative version