I forgot to mention Baptisia. I have a nice one that has performed perfectly every year for probably 10 years!! It is so easy care, that I forgot I had one...lol. I put a hoop around mine. Yes, I do love Peonies. At least I thought I did. But I added two to a sun bed two years ago and last year, they opened just as we got a heat wave and in four days the petals were all on the ground. Without a heat wave, what do you get a week? One developed some kind of foilage disease and died. I have some Salvias, but with clay soil, I think they prefer better drainage. Mine look ok but not great. Yarrows are lovely and I like them, but I've left them out because I thought they travel too fast, true? My geraniums are very easy care, have had them for years, never have a foliage problem or insect problem, knock on wood. [g] Fairly long bloom. I would like to add more varieties. I have been interested in Dictamnus. I never see them at the nursery. The Gillenia I've never heard of. Reminds me of a Gaura or a Sweet Autumn Clematis when it is in bloom to some degree. Very nice. I have a Siberian Iris but I think I must have it in too much shade because it doesn't bloom. I will have to move it. I am just starting to collect Hostas. I really enjoy them. Daylilies....I am not a big fan. It's the foliage mostly. I like them when the foliage is thin and their footprint is small. But I also love the larger blossoms that come with the heavier foliage. I have been looking for a long blooming, tall, grape colored one that I like for a long time and haven't found one yet. I love lilles and would grow tons of them if it weren't for the LLBeetle! Grrr! It's just too much trouble. I have Lily envy of all of you in areas that don't have that problem. :-) I don't have a problem populating my shady beds. There are so many great native plants that I love. I think it is my part sun/sun beds that give me the most trouble. Sooner or later, I'm sure I will stumble upon the perfect plants for those beds. Every year, I try more. Thanks for all the ideas!

I have N. subsessilis. It was not identified with a variety name when I bought it, so I believe it to be the 'straight species'. I love this plant. Ordered it from a catalog that said it would be to 18" tall...not! It is all of 40" and stands up beautifully. Droops for a while after hard rain, but soon stands itself right back up. The soil is heavy on the clay content but does dry out with no rain for 10 days or so. This Nepeta seems to take any condition in stride. It has been in bloom since very early June. I could cut it back to encourage more flowers in a couple weeks, but the few flowers that are left on each spike are a big draw for the hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Plus now that some seeds have formed, the gold finches are regular visitors. As I recall, last year the original bloom spikes that began opening in early June had sparse, but continuous flowers opening into late September. Another thing good about Nepeta, I have yet to see any Japanese Beetles on any of my 3 varieties. This N. sub. has reseeded moderately and given me some plants to pass on to the neighbors who have admired it.

Somebody please remind me next year not to put all my ws containers right under the bird feeder... LOL yes you can laugh at me, luckily I can tell in most cases what is millet and sunflower seeds sprouting, and what is ws perennials. :0) LOL, oh dear! Check out the mother WS forum, Trudi has a method called HOS, I've planted a few so far, they're about 2" high. I really don't have a rule of thumb, I just plant as I go. I think I finished planting around July last year. LOL Sharon

The photos are all so beautiful. In my area we are having quite an interesting fall. I'm not sure if it's late or just a dud. So far many leaves have fallen off the trees w/o even turning, or just crisping up. We have a lot of antracnose from the wet spring so I think it's really affecting the foliage turn this year. There is also a lot that is still green and that might be because we really haven't had any cold nights. I garden for the fall more than any other season and yet I can't seem to find a decent picture to frame up outside. Maybe as the nights get colder the colors will catch up. Time will tell. So......I did something different for some pictures. I collected some pretty leaves, berries and flowers and photographed them. There's a lot of interesting things going on throughout the garden. I LOVE fall! Perhaps as some of the trees in the yard turn (if they do) I'll get some pictures of whole trees!