I think my mental block has something to do with plants that display colors I would normally find clashing. A lot of bearded Irises have unusual color combinations, and Goldflame Spirea has always been a plant that I like, but haven't been able to "see" it in the garden- because the bright blooms have always seemed off to me with the gold/amber foliage. Now I'm seeing that shocking contrast as lovely and quite workable.
