I worry about the weeds and am thinking about putting cardboard down and then mulch on top. You go with that idea but expect to replace it a year or two down the road. It's worked for me for the most part but it isn't the be-all and end-all of gardening--there are some weeds that will grow right up through the cardboard and mulch (ask me how I know this to be true). Still, it's been effective more than it hasn't in several of my garden beds. I understand putting the taller ones in back and making sure that everything is spaced properly. Don't lose sight of the truth that whatever you're going for is right for you but may not be right for another gardener (or what you're planting). I like the look of space between my perennials because that's the look that pleases my eye. What pleases your eye is what pleases your eye & you get to decide that on your own but the plants themselves will ultimately determine the look of your garden. Generally speaking, garden designs adhere to certain standard designs or patterns but they're not guidelines that are carved in stone. I took a huge, rectangular garden that existed before I moved here, divided it in half diagonally, stuck a granite garden bench in the center, curved the edges and laid a granite patio in front of the bench. Not the look the bed had prior to me having my way with it but to my eye it looks a lot more appealing than it did before. Did I buy a garden design book? Yep--bought several and while they gave me ideas, none of the formal gardens worked for my property. I ended up with what worked for me so I'll suggest you sit down with a drawing pad & sketch what you see in your mind. I don't regret doing that and am vastly satisfied with what I've achieved. Don't forget you'll have failures along with the successes. It's been the lesson I've had the most difficulty learning but the successes have mitigated the failures. There's SO much enjoyment when things return reliably year after year I'm reassured the plants I've worked to set in the ground truly are perennials and those that have disappeared are few and far between.

list updated january 12th ANNUALS Acroclinum(strawflower)-white-1 Acroclinum(strawflower)-yellow-1 Agave(century plant)-1 Brassic Oleracea(ornammental cabbage)-1 Calendula officinalis(pot marigold)-2 Gypsoplila elegans(babys breath)-1 Helanthus annus (giant sunflower)-1 Helianthus annus(sunflower)-4 Impatiens hymalyains(hymalayian touch me not)-1 Laverta(rose mallow)-1 Lagurus Ovatus(bunny tail grass)-2 Linaria maroccana(toadflax)-1 Nicandra physalodes(shoofly of peru)-5 Pennisetum glaucoma(ornamental millet)-1Aquilega Silybum marianum(milk thistle)-1 Tagetes(marigold)-3 PERRENIALS Allium-white-2 Allium schoenaprasum(chives)-3 Aquilega-mix(columbine)-1 Aquilega-double purple(columbine)-1 Alcea-pink(hollyhock)-10 Alcea mix (hollyhock)-2 Alisma plant ago(water plantain)-1 Allamada cathartica(trumpet vine)-1 Astilbe-10 Buddleia(butterfly bush)-2 Chyrsanthemum maximus(dwarf Shasta daisy)-1 Cyperaceous(wide leaf sedge)-2 Cynanchum rossicum(pale swallowwort)-1 Dianthus barbatus(sweet William)-8 Digitalis(foxglove)-1 Eupatorium maculatum(joe pye weed)-4 Eryngium alpinum(sea holly)-1 Galliardia-tall(blanket flower)-1 Galliardia"goblin"(blanket flower)-4 Hosta-1 hyacinth ides non sciptus(bluebells)-1 Iberis(candytuft)-4 Lotus corniculatus(birdsfoot trefoil)-6 Lupinus-purple & pink mix(lupin)-8 lupinus-white with pink edge(lupin)-1 Lunaria annua(money plant)-10 Nippon an themum(montauck daisy)-5 Origanum vulgave(oregano) Pennisetum alopecuroides(red fountain grass)-1 Phlox-purple-1 Phlox-mix-2 Physostegia(obedience plant)-1 Pycanthemum incanum(mountain mint)-1 Rudbeckia fulgrada(black eyed susan)-20 Rudbeckia fulgrada-mini(black eyed susan)-1 Salvia faskaohlei-1 Sedum spurium(dragons bllod sedum)-1 Vitus(grape vine)-tons of seeds Verbena tenvisecta(verbena moss) Veronica spicata"blue bonnet"(veronica)-1 Yuccca-2 Vucca-variegated-2 VEGETABLES Tomatoes-4 Big bomb peppers-4 Mini sweet peppers-4 Orange pumpkin-3 Jalopeno peppers-4 Sweet corn-1 Peas-10 Spaggeti squash-4 White pumpkin-4 Sweet peppers-3

ive been tading like crazy so here is my new list ANNUALS Acroclinum(strawflower)-white-1 Acroclinum(strawflower)-yellow-1 Agave(century plant)-1 Aster mix-2 Brassic Oleracea(ornammental cabbage)-1 Calendula officinalis(pot marigold)-2 Gypsoplila elegans(babys breath)-1 Helanthus annus (giant sunflower)-1 Helianthus annus(sunflower)-4 Impatians capensis(spotted jewelweed)-1 Impatiens hymalyains(hymalayian touch me not)-1 Laverta(rose mallow)-1 Lagurus Ovatus(bunny tail grass)-2 Linaria maroccana(toadflax)-1 Nicandra physalodes(shoofly of peru)-5 Pennisetum glaucoma(ornamental millet)-1Aquilega Silybum marianum(milk thistle)-1 Tagetes(marigold)-3 PERRENIALS Ajuga reptans(bugleweed)-1 Allium-white-2 Allium "hair"-3 Allium-purple-4 Allium christopi(star of Persia)-1 Allium schoenaprasum(chives)-3 Aquilega canadianus(Canadian colombine)-1 Aquilega-blue(columbine)-6 Aquilega-mix(columbine)-1 Aquilega-double purple(columbine)-1 Alcea-pink(hollyhock)-10 Alcea mix (hollyhock)-2 Alisma plant ago(water plantain)-1 Allamada cathartica(trumpet vine)-1 Aster-white-1 Aster-pink-2 Astilbe-10 Bergenia Cori folia(bergenia)-1 Buddleia(butterfly bush)-2 Campsis radicans(trumpet vine)-3 Chyrsanthemum maximus(dwarf Shasta daisy)-1 Cyperaceous(wide leaf sedge)-2 Clematis"radar love"-1 Cynanchum rossicum(pale swallowwort)-1 Delphinium"frosted sky"(larkspur)-1 Dianthus barbatus(sweet William)-8 Dianthus carphyllus(carnation)-1 Digitalis(foxglove)-2 Eupatorium maculatum(joe pye weed)-4 Eryngium alpinum(sea holly)-1 Galliardia-tall(blanket flower)-1 Galliardia"goblin"(blanket flower)-6 Hosta-1 hyacinth ides non sciptus(bluebells)-1 Iberis(candytuft)-4 Lotus corniculatus(birdsfoot trefoil)-6 Lupinus-purple & pink mix(lupin)-9 Lunaria annua(money plant)-10 Nippon an themum(montauck daisy)-5 Malva"zebra"(mallow)-2 Origanum vulgave(oregano) Pennisetum alopecuroides(red fountain grass)-1 Phlox-purple-1 Phlox-mix-2 Physostegia(obedience plant)-1 Pycanthemum incanum(mountain mint)-1 Rudbeckia fulgrada(black eyed susan)-20 Rudbeckia fulgrada-mini(black eyed susan)-1 Salvia faskaohlei-1 Sedum spurium(dragons bllod sedum)-1 Vitus(grape vine)-tons of seeds verb scum densiflorum(mullian)-2 Verbena tenvisecta(verbena moss) Veronica spicata"blue bonnet"(veronica)-1 Yuccca-2 Vucca-variegated-2 VEGETABLES Tomatoes-4 Big bomb peppers-3 Mini sweet peppers-5 Orange pumpkin-3 Jalopeno peppers-4 Sweet corn-2 Peas-10 Spaggeti squash-6 White pumpkin-8 Sweet peppers-8

I got the last one at our nursery last summer. I'd never heard of it and my WS has left my reluctant to spend money on gallon plants, but this one was worth the $6 my local nursery charges. It's been a very nice short daisy with lovely color and will easily be divided this fall. My Marconi Shastas have just begun their first few blooms, regular Shastas look ready to start tomorrow, and White Knight Shastas are still a little bit away. My Banana Cream looks to be more on the White Knight schedule so is not quite ready to bloom this week. Really is a beautiful daisy.