Interesting to read linnea's evaluation of Salvia nemorosa cultivars. I also have used those cultivars extensively, but don't agree as to which is the best, or at least which has been (performed) best for me. I have found May Night big and bushy. If it is true that May Night has the longest bloom time, that doesn't increase it's appeal to me. I want a mixed perennial bed to change colour (and overall height) through the growing season. There's a lot of different perennials to perform and some are more spectacular (I'd say) than Salvia nemorosa. I do agree about Caradonna's bloom and height. So far, I find it a bit narrow for it's height, but on the other hand, it then doesn't take up so much lateral space in (fits better into) a bed of closely spaced mixed perennials. As previously said, Caradonna seems to survive with a fair bit of shading. Personally I prefer the colour of Marcus and East Friesland, but I'm sure it's all a matter of personal taste (and perception - latter re documented variability in the perception of purple and blue).

It depends on your zone. In my experience, in Zone 8, Salvia Gregii, many different Lantanas, Zexmenia, Purple Coneflower, Bulbine and Indigo Spires Salvia have been blooming since April and will not stop until November when we have our first freeze. Many plants like Yarrow and Coreopsis are about done here as the heat sets in (95 degrees already). You need a variety of plants including perennials as well as some annuals if you want constant bloom.

Littlebug - glad to hear from a Missourian here, thank you. Yes, that lower bed of yellow is Zagreb and is VERY hardy and proficient, much more than the Moonbeam I had at first. And I do have 2 different beds which have Shasta Daisy. Andy, thank you and I have really been thinking hard about a good reblooming Daylilly, maybe red. I actually have one whole bed of Daylilly and another smaller portion of bed with different daylily but they all do fantastic in my zone and soil. Also have Shasta Daisy in two beds. Your Echinaceas are beautiful and especially like the red one. That is why I liked my Gaillardia because it had red edges and I have, after looking closely to my pic above (use the Zoom to make larger) I actually think I need something other than solid yellow, which is why I liked my Gaillardia because it had red edges. In the 11 years of having this perennial bed I have tried MANY different perennials, and quite a few just don't like it here, and therefore I will probably do some more doubling up on the varieties of those which have done well. I also have to work with what is available at my nurseries. And Echloane, thanks again. As I mentioned above I have several Daylily beds but they do best of anything. So this is a very good possibility. I have some great ideas here, and learned about flowers I have really never heard of before, I have pots of annuals in this bed right now and may just live with those for right now unless I just happen to see something more permanent the next time I go to Kansas City. I am also a Bluebird Nut and cater to them, especially around this nesting time, so they take up a lot of my time, monitoring the nest, feeding mealworms, etc.

Assuming by "lawn" you mean a prepared bed in full sun, there are limitless options. As you may know planting perrenials directly into an established lawn is not a good idea since grass is very aggressive and will strangle your perrenials. I have a very large meadow area now that I prepared into an open lawn (cut out the edges, cardboarded and mulched for a period of time for the grass to die). There is now a nice selection of cool colored perrenials and ornamental grasses that bloom in succession and always provide me with something exciting to look at. For full sun, and well draining soil, I suggest these cool tone reliable perrenials: In the spring, I have white, pink and dark purple tulips (Queen of the Night is my favorite and long bloomer for me). They are immediately followed by purple alliums (I have Globemaster). As those finish, I have long blooming, intense blue-purple salvias (Caradonna, May Night, Blue Hill). Their time intercepts with the pale blue Walker's Low Catmint that reblooms everime I cut it. I wouldn't be without ornamental grasses mixed in with the perrenials for additional structure, texture and movement. By late June, my cool season ornamental grasses are in full swing - Karl Foerster grass gets frothy and tall swaying in the wind. By July, my favorite grass blooms among the perrenials - Molinia Ceraulea Skyracer. The grass itself is no taller/wider than 2-3 feet, but the airy plumes shoot up to 6-8 feet and create a transparent veil among the flowers that is pure magic. My verbena bonariensis blooms by now (annual in our zone, but overwinters for me in well draining soil, or will self-seed). I wouldn't be without its tall airy purple blooms that play very nice with other lower growing plants (and it blooms its head off until frost). At the same time (starting late June, early July) coneflowers are in full swing and last a long time too - I have Magnus, Pow Wow Wildberry and Pow Wow White, also love the more wild looking Echinacea Pallida. Another favorite perrenial (can be short-lived but nicely seeds around if happy) is gaura lindheimeri (I have white ones and pink ones). I love airy plants that weave into each other, bloom long and create a hazy, wildflower meadow effect among plants with more structure. In high summer, Russian Sage begins blooming cool blue for a long time (I recommend Little Spire since it's sturdier than the species). For fall, I recommend heleniums (I have the bright red Helenium Rubinzwerg). Other cool schemed plants I am in the process of growing, and have very high hopes for, include eryngium, althea cannabina, persicaria amplexicaulis, veronicastrum alba, and the red sanguisorba officinalis 'Red Thunder'. Finally, for areas with a bit less sun (dappled shade), I have found my favorite plant to be the ever-popular geranium Rozanne, which blooms intense blue-purple from end of June all the way into late fall.