I remember an intriguing photo in a garden magazine from years ago. The bed in the picture was filled with Hosta. And nothing else. Chartreuse varieties. Variegated ones. Foliage heavily ribbed and quilted. Heart-shaped leaves and those that were lance-shaped. Now that I am the proud steward of an extremely shaded yard, I have recreated my memory of that photo, with all of those glorious green hues.

Surely we all recognize that our surroundings affect our emotions and state of mind. Certain places irritate us, while others are calming. There is a really good chance that a lot of these feelings are influenced by color. In art therapy, color is often associated with emotional issues. Studies show that looking at the color red, for instance, results in an increased heart rate and adrenaline production.

When studying the effects of color, they are commonly noted in two main categories-warm ones and cool ones. While it’s a no-brainer that we apply the concepts of color therapy to our homes and offices, we don’t often think about it in terms of planning our gardens.

The warmer tones of red, orange and yellow are born attention grabbers and can spark emotions that range from comfort to hostility. They rouse the viewer. If you want to draw someone into your garden or create a focal point, add a hot-toned flower. Cool hues like purple, blue and green, are perfect for meditation gardens as they can make us feel calm and contemplative.

When I want to experience a peaceful environment, I look further than the view from my front door. The cool blue and green tones of those Hosta are particularly restful. And science backs this up. The eye focuses the color green directly on the retina, putting less strain on your eye muscles.

Do you look to your landscape for inspiration? Do you want the plants to fire your creative side? Try including some purple flowers in the design. Since purple is made up of both red and blue, psychologically, it provides a balance between stimulation and serenity that can encourage creativity.

Sunny yellow is associated with laughter and happiness. Your brain actually releases more serotonin when you are surrounded the cheerful hues of lemon and goldenrod. Your metabolism speeds up as well, and the color can stimulate creativity. There might be a good reason that legal pads are yellow.

Color can change your mood, but it can also alter your perspective. Using color theory as a guide, you can make sure that the colors you choose go together harmoniously. Color can allow you to make a small space seem larger or to tie different areas of your yard together.

Of course, there is more than color that makes up a well-thought out garden. Structure, shape and texture are a few of the most common elements to consider. Less often, we think about fragrance and movement. But color is everywhere you look and everywhere you don’t look. It manages to delight the eye and tickle the subconscious at the same time. So next time you’re in the Garden Center, look deeper than whether a bright silver Coralbell compliments a cool pink Geranium. Explore how that coral Peony makes you feel.