@virginarose The periwinkles are very very easy to grow. I got them as a ground cover because I was informed that they spread easily in partial shade. That was not the case for me and all the neighbors I gave some to. I dug up quite a bit over the years and tried to get it to spread in various partially shaded spots. The main reason I had it growing next to the door is that the water spigot 3' nearby caused a constant puddle at the door. With the bed of flowers, it would sometimes be too muddy when the husband blew dirt all over with the "Jet" setting of the hand watering nozzle.
I thought the hen and chicks I later added spread much more quickly and soon gave me a nice border around that bed that seemed to keep the periwinkle contained.
http://www.bhg.com/gardening/p... the difference in green hues with the vinca's purple flowers were quite nice.
I had bleeding hearts and daylilies in that bed that did very well. And also some crocus, the first spring blooms in my front yard. Which reminds me that I need to plant some crocus here in the fall. Those are the flowers I always looked for to herald the arrival of spring. Even when they were sitting proud and cheery while surrounded by snow.
