A Quilter's Garden
Lynette Jensen's Garden
(Originally published September/October 2004)
LYNETTE JENSEN'S FALL GARDEN—and her life's vocation—depend on color. The season's last golden black-eyed Susans and gold, pink and maroon coleuses blend with patches of dusty-pink 'Matrona' sedums and mounds of rusty-orange chrysanthemums. 'Victoria Blue' salvia provides an occasional touch of indigo, while pumpkins draw the eye with a bit of seasonality and whimsy. Set about the garden and stacked atop each other are a few white ones, some a ghostly green, here and there your basic orange, and squat reddish types.
The harmonious colors, plus compelling patterns, contrasting textures and thoughtful design, reflect Lynette's unmistakable touch. Quilters eagerly seek out her Thimbleberries fabrics, patterns and books from more than 2,000 shops around the world. In designing both her gardens and her quilts, Lynette follows a similar pattern: She comes up with a color palette and a central theme. "Then, through trial and error, I piece things together," she says. "I choose colors that will either play off each other or merely stay subdued in the background."
Lynette initiated her artful plantings, covering nearly an acre in Hutchinson, Minnesota (60 miles west of Minneapolis), about eight years ago. To inspire other quilters with interior and exterior plant and decorating ideas, she opens her yard and home to tours every fall during a quilters' retreat sponsored by a local shop (see the end of this article for more information).
Lynette wanted a plant palette that would look good year-round, yet peak in fall. To complement the gray color of her home's shake-shingle siding, she chose flowers in toned-down hues, including burgundy, dusty rose, rust, brown, yellow, green, blue, purple, white, cream and silver. This type of color scheme also is a hallmark of many of the fabrics she designs. By repeating colors, patterns and plants, Lynette creates a sense of continuity without making the garden look too tightly regimented.
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