The fiery orange and yellow tulips create a spring garden crescendo the perfect end to winter.

A complementary color scheme implemented in the garden from late winter to very early spring can be just the jolt you need to get you out of the cold-weather doldrums. I was visiting Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Ga., last weekend and you would have thought a rock star was there.

Everyone, me included, was gawking and photographing fiery hot orange and yellow tulips partnered with blue/violet pansies and white ornamental kale. The look was so stunning you simply could not take your eyes off the beds. The complementary color scheme is accentuated when you are coming out of winter.

Just what is a complementary color scheme? Think about a couple whom you’ve known for a long time. More than likely you have either thought or said publicly, "Don’t they complement each other?" In other words, they are quite different but they bring out the best in each other.

Contrast is what this color scheme is all about. The differences that each flower or plant brings creates the appeal of the combination. In creating a complementary color scheme one color comes from the hot side of the wheel and the other is its direct opposite from the cool side. Examples are red and green, orange and blue, yellow and violet.

An exciting variation of this is called the split complementary color scheme. The difference lies in that after the dominant color is chosen, colors next to the direct opposite are selected. This scheme gives you an extra color while still having high contrast.

Using orange this season really warms up the landscape. And it was the giant orange tulips that created the photographing frenzy. Orange is a color in the garden that cannot be overlooked. It just reaches out and grabs you. As for the stunning partnership with blue pansies, viewers should appreciate the planning that took place.

Pansies are planted in the fall, usually when they are in bloom. Tulips on the other hand are planted as bulbs, about 6 inches deep, and are never noticed during the time they are developing roots beneath the soil. The garden designers created this bed to be like a spring crescendo or the finale to a dazzling fireworks display: You might have enjoyed the blue pansies and kale for months but the best was yet to come.

On a color wheel, orange is between yellow and red and is the hallmark color of the hot side of the wheel. If you have only a small area for planting, this could be the color for you as no other color would be showier for a pocket type planting. Callaway Gardens demonstrated this as well in using the same combination in containers next to teak benches.

Next winter you can do the same. Create a spring crescendo in your garden, and let it energize you in your design for the long summer gardening season that lies ahead. Keep in mind that a complementary color scheme can be thrilling.

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