Great Plains, here is that same photo with some IDs attached. It's amazing when I study it, how different it is now. This photo is probably the best it ever looked. In reality it was a re-seeding nightmare. Yarrow and blue fescue were taking over everything, and it just looked like a mess most of the time. The Karl Foester plants got sooo huge and even the once-per-year cutting back was a big chore. And there were zero shrubs to anchor the scene and provide some order. So I've kept the well-behaved grasses, added masses of coneflowers (most of which have planted themselves at this point), allowed well-behaved self-seeders (penstemon, blue flax, ratibida, some catananche), and added a lot of shrubs. I took out 100% of the yarrow and blue fescue because they can't seem to exist in moderation. I can imagine that you would have great luck with penstemon. I sure do love them in all their forms and colors. Before you get too excited about coneflowers (echinacea) beware that they drink a lot of water. More than I thought. But I still love them so they will stay, and in time they will be pushed out by the shrubs and there won't be quite so many. Are the photos you posted with the blue adobe house in the background your place? It's fantastic and so regionally appropriate! A garden in these parts must have ornamental grasses if you ask me!

Libby that is a great list Thank you . Bama would love to see what you find out after you search...I don't know most of those and don't have full sun . will check back and see what you find out. Caroline

Look for this book -- Grasses: Versatile Partners for Uncommon Garden Design" by Nancy J. Ondra, Saxon Holt (Photographer). It sells for about $16 through Amazon. The book has lots of incredible photos of ornamental grasses in gardens mixed with other plants. It's also a good reference on grasses. Some plant combinations that stand out include Russian Sage w/ various Miscanthus varieties. Also, Golden Hakone Grass with hostas and other shade perennials. In my garden, I have combined Miscanthus (Adagio) with Russian Sage and Black-Eyed Susans to good effect. Blue Fescues seem to go well with various sedums. I combined Golden Hakone in a shade bed with impatiens, hostas, dwarf iris and a Japanese red maple (Garnet).

I should have these have these, mostly in small quantities. Geranium 'Biokovo' divisions, 2-quart pots Blackberry lily (Belamcanda chinensis), quart pots Lenten rose (Helleborus x hybridus)--small 2d year seedlings; parents bloom in white, rose, and purple shades Salvia darcyiii, good-sized seedlings, 4" pots Nandina domestica seedlings (about 12" high, parent plants are about 4' tall) Basil (genovese) plants Coleus (very dark red solid and mottled green, red, and white) Salvia guaranitica, divisions, quart pots Aster 'Raydon's Favorite', divisions, quart pots Tatarian aster (Aster tataricus), divisions Heuchera, small divisions, noid, some green with nice pink blooms, some ruffly purple, 4" pots Will dig on request: Sedum 'Autumn Joy' and 'Blue Spruce' Garlic chives Steven