diff --git a/public/css/garden.css b/public/css/garden.css
index 67bfc9b..1b1fec4 100644
--- a/public/css/garden.css
+++ b/public/css/garden.css
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@
   --garden-warning:    var(--red-5);
 
   /* ── Surfaces — the deep background from context.html ──── */
-  --garden-bg:         oklch(8% 0.02 270);    /* #050810 — near-black indigo */
-  --garden-surface:    oklch(12% 0.03 270);   /* #141428 — card/panel bg */
-  --garden-border:     oklch(18% 0.03 270);   /* #1a1a2e — subtle lines */
+  --garden-bg:         oklch(14% 0.03 270);   /* dark indigo, visible hue */
+  --garden-surface:    oklch(18% 0.04 270);   /* card bg — one step up */
+  --garden-border:     oklch(24% 0.04 270);   /* subtle lines */
 
   /* ── Text — the cool gray from the pieces ──────────────── */
   --garden-text:       oklch(82% 0.02 270);   /* #c8c8d8 — body */
diff --git a/static/css/garden.css b/static/css/garden.css
index 67bfc9b..1b1fec4 100644
--- a/static/css/garden.css
+++ b/static/css/garden.css
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@
   --garden-warning:    var(--red-5);
 
   /* ── Surfaces — the deep background from context.html ──── */
-  --garden-bg:         oklch(8% 0.02 270);    /* #050810 — near-black indigo */
-  --garden-surface:    oklch(12% 0.03 270);   /* #141428 — card/panel bg */
-  --garden-border:     oklch(18% 0.03 270);   /* #1a1a2e — subtle lines */
+  --garden-bg:         oklch(14% 0.03 270);   /* dark indigo, visible hue */
+  --garden-surface:    oklch(18% 0.04 270);   /* card bg — one step up */
+  --garden-border:     oklch(24% 0.04 270);   /* subtle lines */
 
   /* ── Text — the cool gray from the pieces ──────────────── */
   --garden-text:       oklch(82% 0.02 270);   /* #c8c8d8 — body */