Andi - those low growing in the front are homestead trailing verbenas. They're supposed to be hardy in my zone but none of them came back this year. Probably it's because I mixed some low growing Aster Wood's Blue and Pink for fall display and not realizing those Aster Wood's got underground runners and are very invasive. They were all over the bed early this spring. I pulled all of them out and replaced the front with Carpet Roses.
I have made some changes in the bed since then. Aside from the Carpet Roses, I added 4 more rose bushes and planted oriental lilies in every nook and crannies where I used to fill with annuals. I lessened the Irises since they're right in the front and get rather tall and will be adding newer varieties of echinaceas and coreopsis that will be arriving mid-May from a group buy.
Believe it or not, there's 4 clumps of Peony bushes in that bed too. Right now plentifull of buds that will be opening soon. Right now all the roses got plenty of buds and will probably open the same time as the peonies. If you think that's crowded enough, I also have Asiatic lilies on the same bed already budding and probably will be on full display around June followed by the Orientals around July and August. Those Asiatics multiply so fast I have to pull or dig some of them out.
I have another bed adjacent to the one above where I made a complete makeover. Backrow are Dahlias and Hibiscus, Middle and front are rose bushes, some peonies, more than 100 bulbs of Oriental lilies planted and more echinaceas. Hoping for a color explosion this summer. I forgot, I also ordered from Mama Jack's co-op -new Garden Phlox (shorter varieties) they will go in that bed too. Both beds are joined in the corner with 2 Hydrangea bushes.
I just started with Clematis last year. Don't know why I didn't took interest with them before. I now got 12 of them planted along fences and trellises by themselves or with my climbing roses.
