In just a few weeks, it’ll be time to plant some annual color, both in containers and in your planting beds. And, unless you want a crazy-quilt cottage garden featuring every color in the rainbow (and hey, those are good, too!), most people want to choose two colors that will pop. But which two? If you’re ready to step outside the norm, here are some eye-catchers to try:

You don’t have to garden on a tiny balcony or live in a diminutive garden home to use the vertical gardening techniques that are so popular right now. Even gardeners with several acres likely have those tricky spaces that leave us scratching our heads—narrow side yards, spaces between fences and garages, entrances to gardens, and space-challenged courtyards all provide us with challenges that deserve some prior planning.