I'm with Jill... I plant plants that will attract the 3 B's

being down south now, I think I have to shift gears where plants are concerned, but I'm trying some old favorites too.

Terese, let us know what you are doing.. Will you go North when it gets too hot in Florida?

we will head North end of April or early May.
then head back sound as early as mid-Sept to early Oct.

The best of both worlds.

yes -- that is the plan. Summers in WI are generally very nice.

I still have to figure out what i'm going to do with the plants in various locations though...
will be a learning experience.

There is no way I could just pick 5 or even 10 as my favorites. I love them all that will grow for me. I tried Foxglove and Shasta Daisy but did not have them come back. I have also tried Daffodils but they did not come back either. I still have a lot of space to put flowers so I will be adding many that I don't have yet. Visit my blog and you will see some of my flowers and flower beds. Happy Gardening!

Jeanne, my favorites change with the season- 10 favorites for each season is still challenging! Very odd for Daffodils not to return...do you recall what variety they were?

Shasta daisies are really iffy and short lived for me too- drives me nuts! I can't figure out the problem, as some folks consider them long term perennials.

I have one hillside, part shade planting that's lasted 10+ years, while some of my newer plantings look very iffy right now. I wonder if some of these newer varieties just aren't as vigorous?

I have bad luck with Larkspur,Foxglove,Lupin, allium .It's not well drained enough . Iris also.
These are faves of mine even tho I cant grow them
The perenns that do nicely are Platycodon, Salvia,Lilies,Coneflower.

Chelle, I think you're right. Old varieties I've started from seed, like Alaska, have at least lasted a few years. Last summer I picked up a gallon pot of 'Becky' shasta daisies from a clearance shelf, and it formed a beautiful clump that stayed pretty for most of winter. After the snow melted and I could see it again, it looks almost dead. I could see a root or two have some life, but most of the crown looks dead.

Jo Ann Do you have half day sun? From your garden photos I think you might have too much shade for the tall bearded irises. Perhaps the dwarfs & bulbus like Iris reticulata in the early spring might be better.

I take photos in daylight before the sun is completely up. My iris problem is poorly drained soil and borers. Yes I spray,it doesnt seem to help.
I have many reticulateds and Standard dwarfs they do seem to thrive.

I noticed that some of my 'Becky' row was under frozen water late this winter, so if they fail, it's surely my fault.

I planted 'Real Neat' in my raised hugel bed last fall, and they're looking good so far. 'Real Galaxy' went in a raised area at the edge of the rock garden, and only one of the three planted really looks like it's alive at this point. Strange.

So frustrating. Gardens at the north east and east side are still covered..aybe by next weekend with luck and warm temps.

Snowing today so mare covering than uncovering.

I love shasta daisy plants, but they are very iffy for me also. The alaska was way to big, so I have been planting Silver Princess. For the past two years it returns in patches here and there and I end up having to transplant from the patches in the spring to spread it throughout the garden. I need to start doing that now, glad I saw this thread to remind me.

This is tough .. only 5 ?

1- Creeping Phlox
2- Iris [ at least 11 diff. varieties ]
3- Daylillies
4- Korean Spice Viburnum .. butterflies love it
5- Penstemon - bees and Skippers devour the nectar

Probably have things growing that are considered 'weeds', but if it is pretty - doesn't take over everything -- it has a home.
This is my 2nd year with this Inherited 'Garden of Surprises' ... it came with our home - expect more things to show up this year, but taking a digital history last year really will help.

This goes with Daylily grouping above..
- they all belong to The Order of the Day Lily

- number in upper right corner is the order they have bloomed

- # 1 is sometimes called a ' Ditch Lily ' as they grow along roadsides -- in a ditch <a href="http://www.stoutgardens.com/pages/about-us" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.stoutgardens.com/pages/about-us</a>
' Orange Vols ' per this site --

- # 2 blooms one or two at a time ..Name is: ' Bonanza '

- # 3 small bloom - about 12 inches tall; not many blooms of pink and salmon
.. this is 'Winsome Lady' - #3

- # 4 is still blooming; many buds left - Name is 'Kwanso' .. a triple lily

- # 5 a very soft buttery yellow .. Name is: ' Golden Prize '

- # 6 the latest, takes her time .. usually one bloom at a time ..I call her 'Jazz Velvet'

- all in my Garden of Surprises 2014

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Welcome, Peggy! Your favorites are certainly proven performers, and some of my favorites too. Of course my favorites change with the seasons, should have broadened the thread to spring favorites, summer favorites, fall favorites, and even then its tough to pick just 5 or even 10!

If you're after a cottage garden look, why isn't anyone talking about delphiniums? They're stunning, classic cottage garden, and (like lupins) if you can keep the slugs away, very easy to grow. They can even rebloom if you cut them back after they flower...

My top ten for a summer cottage garden would be:

Roses
Delphiniums
Lupins
Phlox
Lavender
Hardy geraniums
Clematis (with something to climb up!)
Agapanthus
Irises
Kniphofia

But if you ask me tomorrow, the list might be a bit different! Can't live without veronica... or alliums... or hostas... heucheras....

Hmmmm

I would love to grow lupin. they don't seem to like us.