And, according to Mississippi State University Extension Service Horticulturist Norman Winter, with the right color schemes, they can be very attractive.

Winter was in Brookhaven Wednesday morning to talk about what gardeners can expect at this weekend's Crystal Springs Experiment Station Gardening Extravaganza, which features all the latest and most important trends in gardening. Winter said he's not sure what all the recent rain will do for the expo, but that there will be new plants and combinations of garden flowers, herbs and vegetables to explore.

"But I haven't been out to the experiment station since we started the 40 days and 40 nights," he joked about recent heavy rainfall.

Meanwhile, he also brought a slide show with pictures of ways flowers and plants can be used in different eye-catching color schemes in a garden.

"You can use blends of the same color. That's how guys get dressed for church," he joked. "And it doesn't have to be boring."

He also discussed analogous color schemes. Using a color wheel, he showed the groups what to expect from complementary color schemes.

"It's basically the same as when you see a couple, and you say, 'Don't they complement each other?' And really it's because they're as different as night and day," he said. "It's like that in the garden. You can use a cool blue and a hot orange together, and they complement each other."

Winter also extolled the use of different grasses, telling the group they add greatly to any gardening scheme.

"If the only grass you grow is the grass you mow, you're missing out," he said, showing a slide of his favorite brown grass, the Toffee Twist Carax and adding that grass, contrary to popular belief, does not have to be all green.

"My wife and I were at a show and I pointed some out and said, 'Look at that beautiful Toffee Twist Carax,' and she said, 'Why did they let it die?'" he said. "As pretty as a garden can be, what's the finishing touch? Grass. Never underestimate the power of a good grass."

And another rising trend, Winter said, may be tied to the financial climate around the country.

"Herbs and edibles are skyrocketing in popularity," he said. "Blame it on the economy if you will, but everyone wants to grow something they can eat now."

Winter told the group more than anything, the important thing is to keep gardening.

"Hopefully you saw something that will get you revved up to dig in the dirt," he said.