Rita - This year I won't see Last Chance for Romance very long. It only had seven buds. It's in a pot and didn't get the full sun it needed this year. It will be planted in the ground in September, so it should be much better budded next year. I love that it truly blooms very late. Debra

As diggingthedirt suggested, knowing a bit about what your yard's conditions are as well as your gardening preference (symmetrical and tidy, wildly blooming but disorganized, ...?) will help you get suggestions. A photo will also help us envision what might look nice. Along with flowers also consider variegated or colorful (gold, maroon, etc.) foliage and contrasting foliage texture (ferny vs broad vs. long & slender vs. cut-leaves), as often it is decorative for longer than just flowers. Below I've linked a thread asking about an early VT wedding which may have some ideas for you, including some specific suggestions for annuals that will bloom for all of August under normal conditions. If you go to the bottom of the main New England forum page there is a search box. Type in wedding and look at the various threads, even if they are for the wrong time of year. Several of them discuss the potential pitfalls of this type of a plan. They will help you evaluate whether you really want to try this for yourself on such short notice. In general if you want to use perennials many would want to be started the previous year. You can use annuals if you choose varieties that will still be blooming in August and as Digging suggested, there are some perennials that will bloom the first year. If you end up deciding to do this, have a backup plan in case a dog digs up your beds, a hurricane arrives in August and flattens everything, or the weather is odd and nothing ends up blooming at its expected time. It might include scoping out nurseries ahead of time and then buying well grown pots of annuals and putting them in elegant planters or obtaining reallu large vases in which to place tall cut flowers. Paniculata Hydrangeas (shrubs) will probably be blooming then, but you would have to choose one of the smaller selections like 'Little Lamb' since your garden is small, get the largest potted plant you can find and hope that it is happy enough with its new site that it blooms this August. There may be some clematis that would bloom in your area in August, but again, you'd need to buy the largest plant you could find and plant it with as little disturbance as possible so that is more likely to bloom. Regardless of what you plant, plan to spend time weeding and watering on a regular basis this summer. Using pretty mulch (like cocoa hulls if you don't have a dog) will help keep moisture in your beds and will discourage some of the potential weeds, but both will need attention if the garden is to look its best. I am not trying to discourage you, but I would also hate for you to be disappointed that things don't look as you envision on this special day. Let us know what you decide to do. We love seeing photos . . . Here is a link that might be useful: Early August VT wedding thread

From your zone in Arkansas I am guessing you are in northwest Arkansas. I live in Conway, but I have sons in Fayetteville and Rogers so I visit the area occasionally. If you can figure out how to send me an email and would like to get in touch, I should have some rooted cuttings to share in the spring if you have room for them. I just don't know how to send emails using garden webs. I hope your inflo opens for you. I have one on an Aztec Gold also but it is so small, I am hoping it just holds on until next spring. Joan

Robert, we were there in late July. My Father-in-law lives within walking distance of Southwood. I saw three JJ plumeria on sale on a Saturday. Resisted the temptation to buy one. Came back the next day and they were all sold! Kicked myself. But I did pick up a spare Lemon Drop from Mike in Bixby! (thanks Mike).