The colours of nature are far more fascinating than any artificial hues. Colours are made by absorbing light from molecules. Different creatures can perceive different lights. Wild reindeer have special eyes that adapt to the dark Scandinavian winters (even some local humans have now adapted to see in the dark). Which is why to never support reindeer in shopping centres to ‘entertain the children’ as the bright lights (and noise) terrify them.
Of course a rainbow is the epitome of nature’s colours, and comes out after the rain and the sun is shining. You likely know already, but the way to remember the colours is to chant the initials of the phrase ‘Richard of York gave battle in vain – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet). Rainbows are simply reflecting light through drops of water at an angle. If you’ve ever sat in the flight deck of a plane, you’ll know that rainbows don’t look the same from above – they are kind of a circle, rather than an arc. If you sit at the correct place near a lawn sprinkler on a sunny day, you’ll also see a rainbow.
Plants and flowers only have three pigments: green (chlorophyll that is lost in autumn, turning trees a beautiful brown), plus carotenoids (found in orange fruits and vegetables and blues (found in beetroot and flowers).
From a butterfly’s wing to dark blue clouds, from the brown colours of female birds and often bright plumage of the males (to attract a mate), colours are used within the natural world to disguise, flirt, hide or scare!
Birds can see ultraviolet light and this technique is sometimes used to make special glass to stop birds flying into windows (getting rid of ancient facades to replace with skyscrapers is causing havoc). That’s why you should also never place foliage near garden views, as it can confuse our feathered friends who then fly into them.
Have you heard that dogs see in sepia? It’s not true, but they don’t have the best eyesight (nor do elephants, they remember so well because of your smell!) Dogs do however see colours differently. So blue and yellow are the best choices for safe toys (only supervised) as these are easiest to spot on the grass. Red, orange and green toys get lost in a dog’s world!
Honeybees can’t see red, which is why they prefer blue and green flowers like lavender and rosemary. If planting bee-friendly flowers, see how to make your garden safe for pets (as many wildflowers also found in plantable cards) may be toxic to them).
The blue-footed booby is a fascinating bird. He has blue feet, so to attract a mate, he lifts up his toes and flashes the soles of his feet to potential females. Whoever has the most blue feet gets the girl!
Wildlife rarely see the colour red, which is why it’s used for wildlife crossings (great to keep them safe, but the colour is muted into their landscapes, so not to be intrusive).
Some animals are not naturally the colours you think they are. Juvenile flamingos are grey, they only turn pink from eating fish that turns their feathers a different colour. And polar bears are not really white. They have translucent hair that looks white, reflected from the snow.
Poetry Break: Colour by Christina Rosetti
What is pink? a rose is pink
By a fountain’s brink.
What is red? a poppy’s red
In its barley bed.
What is blue? the sky is blue
Where the clouds float thro’.
What is white? a swan is white
Sailing in the light.
What is yellow? pears are yellow,
Rich and ripe and mellow.
What is green? the grass is green,
With small flowers between.
What is violet? clouds are violet
In the summer twilight.
What is orange? Why, an orange,
Just an orange!
