Exploring Color: Green

“Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises.” ~Pedro Calderon de la Barca

Spring is here, and it is a perfect time to explore green what I consider the prime color of spring.  Everything beginning to grow. Leaves starting to show, new shoots of bulbs and perennials. So many greens of every shade imaginable. I do so love all shades of green.  I had several rooms painted different greens in my old house.  I think I love green because it brings me closer to nature.  Green is said to be very healing as well as balancing.

This week in #the100dayproject I will be trying out some of the greens I have in paint sets and tubes. And also seeing if I can mix a few greens from the blues and yellows I have been highlighting. Green is said to be a great combo of these two colors, offering both the excitement of yellow and the tranquility of blue.

So let’s explore the color green…..

The word green is related to the Old English verb growan, “to grow”.

The human eye can see more shades of green than any other color.  Because our eyes are most sensitive to green.

Various Meanings and History

Green is closely associated with spring and summer and symbolizes growth, harmony, freshness, peace and fertility. Green suggests safety, stability and endurance. And green is said to help alleviate depression and anxiety.

It is the most restful color for the human eye.

Green can also describe someone who is inexperienced, jealous, or sick.

In Ireland, green represents the green hills, and the patron saint, St. Patrick.

In Japan, green is the color of eternal life.

In Aztec culture, green was considered to be a royal color.

Fun Facts

Green is frequently used when advertising drugs and medical items because of its association with safety. It is also great for promoting ‘green’ products.

Green is second only to blue as a favorite color.

Animals such as frogs, lizards, and other reptiles and amphibians, as well as fish, insects, and birds, appear green because of layers of blue and green coloring on their skin.

Most of the green found in nature comes from chlorophyll.

Green was the favorite color of George Washington, the first President of the United States.

The message you send by driving a dark green car that is that you are traditional, trustworthy and well-balanced.

If you drive a bright yellow-green car you are trendy, whimsical and lively.

Hues

Dark green is associated with ambition, greed, and jealousy.

Yellow-green can indicate sickness, cowardice, discord, and jealousy.

Dull, darker green is commonly associated with money, the financial world, banking, and Wall Street.

Aqua is associated with emotional healing and protection.

Olive green is the traditional color of peace.

Green In the Garden

Green is one of the cooler colors in landscape design and it creates a soothing feel to the garden. Green plants visually recede into the background helping to make a small space appear larger. Because green’s complimentary color in the garden is red, red flowers stand out wonderfully against green.

To celebrate spring, I cut the only flower blooming in my garden right now, this lone snowdrop. And I added a bit of this green ivy from a house plant. The backdrop is against some house plant green from the pothos made me feel like spring is here, but slowly emerging. We are turning cold again, but after all it is still March here in the NE United States. A tumultuous, ever-changing month. So for now green is the perfect color to explore in the garden and for my celebratory vase.

With this vase, I am linking in to the wonderful meme, In A Vase On Monday, at Rambling in the Garden.

All the pictures shared in this post were taken with my Nikon Coolpix or iPhone camera, and manipulated on my iPhone using the apps, Pixlr and Prisma. The collages were created with a variety of apps 10 years ago that are no longer available. You can follow my progress with #the100dayproject in my Instagram and Facebook feed.

All original content is copyrighted and the sole property of Donna Donabella @ Gardens Eye View, 2010-2022.  Any reprints or use of content or photos is by permission only.