Liz, I agree, Foxgloves are gorgeous!

I've grown them from winter sown seeds, and they are a nice accent growing behind the peonies. You can see them in my 4th picture from the bottom. As a matter of fact, they multiplied in the area that I planted them, which was in partial shade. I did dig those out, and they will be transplanted in my new garden. I'm thrilled with how well they've done in my zone 7a/7b.

I've also winter sown Delphiniums, I bought seeds from Dowdeswell's in NZ several years ago, but I did not transplant them on time, I definitely want to try growing them from seed again. Their New Millennium series is supposed to tolerate the heat better. I've also gotten them in pots from one of our local nurseries, but I've never transplanted them in the garden. I need to do a better job of this.

Delphiniums grow like weeds here, I need to weed seedlings otherwise they will grow all over the place! I have a wall of them along the border of the garden. Foxgloves need more heat that the weather can provide it here, not every summer it will flower since it is too short. I found a special perennial variety which should be OK for zone 3, we'll see how it overwinter this year.

My husband has a variety of delphinium growing in the back yard that have self seeded and taken over a corner but only because he planted the initial one right beside a fountain. Every one I've tried has died, just too dry here. They're lovely, wish I could grow them!

I too love foxgloves! Though they don't love my garden. Last year, a lot of seedlings coming up the prior fall did not make it through the winter. Hundreds of seedlings died over winter and only about 5 survived.

There are plenty of Digitalis varieties & some species, that may do well or better, that you might try. I think the Dalmation series (although a bit shorter, might do better in short season areas. I always like 'Glittering Prizes', of which I think 'Pam's Choice' was a selection from it, in white. SeedSavers may have it.
As for the Dowdeswells Delphiniums, I do think they are more heat tolerant, but the soil must be amended, fairly deeply. Mulch may help with their water demands (plus afternoon shade) in warmer areas. Bur some of the colors are fairly exquisite & extra number of petals, helps make them a really nice. addition..

I had some 'comments' about a post I made elsewhere about Scabiosa caucasica 'Fama Deep Blue' ( now under Lomelosia?) in another forum, I posted in .It may do well for you, in cooler areas if you like blue flowers, but unfortunately might not do as well for Annette, down in Georgia, but you can always try it out, anyway . I usually get my seeds from Johnny's Select, as you get more,seeds for your money, than the usual ten seeds in a packet, for about $5. If you start seeds real soon, you may just get flowers this year. Otherwise, I sow it in late summer, or early autumn, to bloom after vernalization.. But it may not be absolutely a requirement, for flowering later on, this year., for summer

I just thought of another late spring bloomer & that is Campanula 'medium?' Canterbury Bells,. Either single if you prefer, or the double 'cup & saucer'. Though biennial, I just can't recall if the seedlings that have some red tint in winter, are blue violet , or pink. I don't think it is the white ones. But at least it comes in a minimum of about four colors. dark blue, to light blue, a violet purple, white & pink. If you like the cup & saucer, purchase that seed, or' Calycan' mix. I don't think they often sell the colors individually, if at all, unless a different sort. But may possibly from Hazzard's seeds.

Looking at my last season photos I found this picture of "companion plants". You might see here 1 out of 4 peonies I planted along the border of a flower bed with both annuals and perennials and I ensure you, every peony has 2.5' by 3' their personal space but it is hardy seen at all All other flowers grow so much during summer that their foliage lean over peonies which are still very young. I find my picture rather funny compared to perfect flower bed photos in this thread.

Anya! Your photo is what a real garden looks like! I thank you for your honesty. The same goes for my garden which is a mess in the summer and fall. THe beds look really good in spring but start to deteriorate about late June when hot weather and insects start to invade. I think that's why I don't have many pics during the summer. Japanese beetles, Asian brown beetles, June bugs literally take a huge bite out of my garden. When fall comes around, bare brown spots from dormant peonies occupy most of the space.

Anya,
I have so much to take care of, so my garden gets away from me every year. I don't care!! It's for me to enjoy. Don't apologize. As far as I know, none of us have "hired help" to do the maintenance on our gardens.

@Mieko2 If we had "hired help" that would take away part of the enjoyment, of taking care of our plants. At least it would for me... I just noticed Home Depot here, has there new spring shipment in, for boxed & bagged perennials, including peonies. My budget is already limited, after already having placed some orders & then thought, I need to find out what my balance is, so I know what I can afford to get !
Next, it will be WalMart & their spring shipment. Will have to compare quality & prices.
I heard rumour about Lowe's, but uncertain if it is really true & if they are closing a store here, or not.
Mixed borders, are my favorite, as my gardening style, is so diverse...Has anyone mentioned Monarda? I can't recall which is more red, but possibly Cambridge, as I think the similar one is Gardenview Scarlet. I have seen a nice, nearly purple colored culitivar, too.

Forgot to add that another reason my beds look terrible in the summer is that they are often overtaken by weeds. I try to do weekly weeding but cannot keep up.

Weeds are stronger than I!

I consider it a win if most of the growing season I can keep the weeds shorter than the peonies.

@shawnsteve, I agree, I get lost in my garden and leave the ordinary world behind!!

Yes, I have Monarda in my peony beds, and just love it. So do the butterflies.

Anya, it means that you're doing a great job with your plants, for them to grow so well during the summer.!

We don't have any weeds in GA! Just kidding ! I find that the long needle pine straw that I use for mulch helps to keep the weeds at bay.

LG, beautiful picture of the bee balm. I had a red one, that grew well for several years, then disappeared after a while. It's on my plant list to add to the new garden.

with Annette. That is lovely, LG! I wish my monardas return for me. They live only in the year they are planted.

@Mieko2 I used to cut off the flower tops, for re-bloom. Looks great!
@kousa Karen, the roots are very near the surface, so perhaps if you were to use a layer of loose mulch, they just may survive. Unless it is way too far outside the zone rated for it. But maybe just on the borderline for hardiness, for winter survival & that use of mulch may help make the difference ?

My friend gave me this Monarda. I don't know it's name, but here is her bed of it along her horse pasture fence.

I planted the large allium such as Everest and Avalanche under my peony foliage. The allium stems emerge above the peonies, bloom after the peony , but before the peony foliage is so abundant to shade the allium foliage so the the allium comes back year after year. BTW you do NOT want to cut off peony foliage. It is needed to keep the plant alive. I don't know what "ratty" refers to in the post as foliage looks good through very late summer when mildew occurs or the foliage naturally senesces (dies back).