I was out in the garden yesterday and took note of two different combinations that work for different reasons.

The one above is a pleasant little scene in a shady spot near my back door. At first by chance and now by design it uses a complimentary color scheme of gray and chartreuse colored foliage. I have a Japanese maple, hostas, a tiarella and other plants there including some towering gray foliaged meadow rues. The big hosta itself is both gray and chartreuse colored.

Meanwhile, in a sunny part of the garden a black foliaged Sambucus is mixing it up with a yellow colored ninebark. The contrast is striking and eye catching.

Doris Page of Tacoma needs our help, fellow gardeners. She's got a garden bed in search of an identity. It's got a camellia, and really not much else, as you can see here.

Says Doris about her bed:

There is a sprinkler in the back of the Camilla. The area faces east and gets morning sun. It is shaded in the afternoons. I had everything removed and want to start with low maintenance perennials or anything else readers might suggest.

So readers, help Doris with her tragic mess of a yard. What would you do if this garden bed was your blank palette? Thoughts? Comment here or e-mail your advice to sue.kidd@thenewstribune.com. (Submissions may be published in any form).