Orange is great and goes well with Turquoise, also pops of Red and Yellows!!! I have just bought Louisiana Iris and am going to paint a tub my husband often uses for mixing small bits of concrete to put water in for the swamp effect, I was told they grow very good this way.
Tall bearded Iris do well in our zone...if you can tolerate the crispy look of some of the leaves in the summer. Daylily grow here too, just make sure you get evergreen or semi evergreen. A lot of things grow but do not look so good in summer. I have Salvia too and there are varieties that love direct hot sun.
Go and look at my profile plants and ask any questions you have about the things I grow.
Tall bearded Iris west/south side of yard...very intense heat up to the 130 degree plus last year...because my yard is so small and heat radiates from the block walls.
