It's too bad that you cant go just a tad bit shorter than 2 to 3 feet, I had lots of suggestions for you that stays with the same one plant, but with color varations. One suggestions was to go with the Cosmic cosmos--all three colors red, orange and yellow which are totally stunning and vibrant mixed together. And incredibly easy to grow from seed! Another suggestion was Magellan zinnias, which will grow like dwarf hydrangea shrubs smothered with handsized blooms that last for months. I had blooms that did not need be removed for 4 months, I kid you not! And there is just about every color available, coral, ivory, yellow, pink, scarlet, cherry, orange, salmon. I am growing over 400 of these this year. Another suggestion was a mixture of Celosia 'Fresh Look' colors in red, orange,and yellow. Most people hate celosia because they have never had good luck with keeping them going, but the Fresh Looks are very stunning, lush, healthy plants that get just under 2 foot tall, if I remember correctly. Another suggestion was to do Gomphrena, in a mixture of colors. Gomphrena, if plants are kept together and properly spaced will grow to a 2 foot tall airy "shrub" that stands up to rain, drought, etc. I grow the "All Around Purple', 'Strawberry Fields', and other colors from Park Seed, including white, rose and bicolor rose. Dont underestimate those small colored balls! They can REALLY make a huge standout, if they are grown correctly. I second the idea of using Profusion zinnias. These are like the perfect daisy like flower! Also, the blooms did not need removed for 4 months, available in colors: cherry, white, orange, Fire (reddish orange) and Apricot (my favorite). Very easy to grow from seed. You may want to check into the Tidal wave Petunias. If you space them about 2 foot apart, they will spread out like you wouldnt believe and grow to about 2 foot tall. I have never seen a petunia grow like this before last year! Though, the silver would blend right into your house color, but they do make a purple, hot pink, and cherry color that I will be doing this year. Tidals have a massive branching system to them. Do a search on gardenweb and you will find lots of pictures and ideas for them.

A lot of annuals will reseed naturally even here in zone 4 - but I think you'll have a better germination rate with your winter sowing than chancing direct seed sowing now. A possibility for you as far as annuals go might be snapdragons, cosmos, alyssum, pansies, some kinds of dianthus. I've even gotten a few self-seeded petunias, hybrid verbena, and moss roses. Again, I'd put more faith in the winter sowing; people have had great success with that although many, many plants to put in the ground in the spring - a task you're trying to avoid. For perennials, as long as you still have ample time before the ground freezes and plants have time to get established, you could probably still put in any number of things and get them mulched. Getting a little late though, and perennials tend to be more expensive so would hate to risk it. Now is a good time to be putting in bulbs, however - crocus, daffodils, muscari, Puschkinia, scilla, Dutch iris, tulips.

Hi Bea, The vining cukes and/or beans sound like a cool idea in the flower beds. Thanks Regarding Belinda's Dream: Of all of the hundreds and hundreds of roses, the AARS only recommends two for the Southeast, which is pretty amazing. See link below. It is the only Hybrid tea that is highly fragrant and does not get blackspot or diseases. Here is a link that might be useful: AARS - Southeast

KrazyKim-- Sunflowers are KING. You almost certainly HAVE to grow them!!!!!!! There have been several threads about best varieties, some of them in the "Journal" entries, some of them in the "What worked best for you/what will you grow next year" threads. Read some of the older threads on pages 2-10 of this forum and you should find LOTS of info. I'm enjoying my first small stand of sunflowers in years. For ten thousand reasons I haven't been successful with them in recent years,(and may not again be this summer) primarily due to me being an idiot! They are probably the easiest flower to grow EVER and I've failed! LONG stories, won't go into here. The experts use the Pro-Cut series, the Sun Series, Starburst Series, and dozens of others. I think you could close your eyes, turn around 3 times, and then point to a variety and it will be fabulous for you. Good luck, Susi.