Gardeners and landscapers can learn a lot from other artists and
craftsmen. For instance, think of the people who work in the picture-
framing business.

Take a picture to one of these experts and you can find that what
might have seemed a no-brainer turns out to require a lot of thought
to achieve the desired result. They'll naturally spend some time
selecting the ideal frame. But notice how much thought they put into
finding the perfect mat.

The mat - that beveled piece of card that serves as a border between
the picture and the frame - is essential to the optimum appreciation
of the picture itself. The right mat will enhance perfectly the
picture it surrounds, focusing the viewer's eye on the art it
borders.

On the other hand, a carelessly-chosen mat can be a major distraction,
clashing with the colors of the art or dominating the viewer's
attention. Even a masterpiece can appear mediocre when poorly framed
and matted.

The same can be true with the plants in your landscape.

A prize perennial can look breathtaking when surrounded by other
plants carefully chosen to form the ideal "frame and mat" to bring out
its color and texture. Conversely, that supreme specimen can almost
disappear when set amidst the "wrong" plants.

As I have recommended before, a good start is a color wheel from a
craft shop or downloaded from an online source, such as
http://www.colormatters.com/colortheory.html You can quickly see a
visual guide to analogous and complementary colors.

In a nutshell, analogous colors are the three colors that sit side by
side on a twelve-part color wheel; for example the trio that pretty
much go from yellow to orange to red. Complementary colors are any two
colors that sit directly opposite each other on the wheel, such as red
and green, or red-purple and yellow-green. (It's easier to visualize
this when you're looking at a color wheel!)

Your objective with all this is to achieve harmony: an arrangement
that is pleasing to the human eye.

If you need an idea to get you started, you could do worse than a fast-
growing perennial named Salvia Blue Hill Sage (Salvia x sylvestris
Blue Hill). Why? Because this useful plant seems to bring out the
absolute best in other plants that it "frames" in your garden. If
you've ever said, "That dress brings out the color of your eyes,"
you'll understand what I mean.

Blue Hill originated in Germany where it was (and is) valued for its
summer-long blooming clear blue flowers and its sturdy compact
stature. Cut it back and it will re-bloom in the early fall. They're
easy to grow and prefer full sun, reaching a maximum height of around
two feet.

If you're using the principals of complementary colors, the brilliant
blue of that Salvia and its green foliage would greatly enhance the
color of red-blooming plants that you group with it.

A delightful option could be the Dianthus Spotty. Blooming in May or
June, the Spotty has bright red flowers festooned with brilliant white
spots. Like Blue Hill, they do best in full sun and well drained soil.
Spotty is a dwarf variety, reaching only about 5 inches tall and is
perfect for rock gardens.

In England they are often described as crevice fillers because they
can be planted between flagstones or around craggy rock features. A
mass of Dianthus Spotty in full bloom looks like a red and white polka-
dot dress. A fun addition to your garden and a fine "complement" to
the Blue Hill.

Speaking of "red," of course you can't help but think of the aptly
named Red Hot Poker.(Kniphofia uvaria Flamenco). Actually, this
particular variety produces fiery red, vivid orange and soft yellow
flower spikes, thus making it a one-man analogous color display! The
brilliant flowers are on straight, 3-foot stalks and hummingbirds seem
to go bonkers for them.

Create color harmony in your garden and you'll see how the right
"frames" bring your masterpieces to life.

The Plant Man is here to help. Send your questions about trees, shrubs
and landscaping to and for resources and
additional information, or to subscribe to Steve's free e-mailed
newsletter, visit www.landsteward.org