I can't get a geranium to come back to save my life and i have them in the warmest most wind safe area in my porch planter, i've had to replace them every year for 13 years. The dasies are darndably reliable, even though this winter took it's toll, most ever lost in a season, but after 12 wonderful seasons before that, i won't complain to much over a 1/3 reduction in my numbers. I have some very large gerbers that rival some of my Hosta for size, and i have some honkin hostas.I will say that even though so many survived, they did suffer a bit, not nearly as large as they would have been after a mild winter. I have no doubt though they will recover well, I only have 2 that are blooming now. The rest range from very close to way far from it. I also had some snap dragons pop up after they were gone for 2 years as well as a petunia. lose some and from nowhere others seam to spring up....

I better answer desertgarden's question before she sets off another nervous round of questions! Her computer is behaving like Sheldon on Big Bang Theory! LOL Desert and Ingrid--the bright pink rose on right side of second pic is (drum rolllllllllllll)--Earth Song. And that is after I moved her 3 times! I think she likes that spot--and everybody always notices her there and asks for her name. Good shrub, good disease-resistance. nana, thanks for your comments on the cottage look. That's what I was trying for, but I'm not always sure everybody views it the same as I do. As to the "deep gold orange rose in the last photo"--that is my beloved Molineux, and in real life, those are apricot highlights, not orange. Actually it is 3 Molineux planted close together (18 inches apart, in a triangle) to look like one big full lush bush. Makes a stronger statement that way. Another good rose, with good disease-resistance. Ingrid, glad you like the birdbath ensemble out in front of the house. My front yard is so heavily shaded with big maples (and their roots spread everywhere) that I can't grow much out in front. That birdbath spot is one of the few spots that gets enough sunlight (later in the day) that I can get by with growing those tough Home Run bushes out there. That pic was several years ago--the roses there are bigger and fuller now. Here is a pic from last year--just of the roses along the property line. Somehow I haven't gotten around to taking pics this year yet. Home Run Kate

I am not zone 11, but zone 9b( Rockport Tx), I cannot grow a shasta daisy for anything, but gerber dasies grow like weeds.I have tried to plant them in full sun, dapple shade, and full shade. Here in Zone 8 ( San Antonio, Tx) where I live they grow beautifully. I have the same problem with the coneflower, Persian Shield, and the Fringe plant, they grow like a weeds in San Antonio, but die at the coast, I think they cannot take the salt in the soil down there. I have tried at least 3 times in diffrent locations, and they always die at the coast. If you do not have salty soil, then they will probably live. Barbra

Hey Carrie, maybe I have dappled shade instead of dappled sun.........but this is what I grow there. Wood Ferns (from you), hostas, Kimberly Fern, sun coleus, Dragon Wing Begonia (must have), tall Ginger, Oriental Lilies, phlox (tall), and elephant ears. As you know, I have to try to have every plant in the universe so these HAVE to grow in the dappled sun/shade bed. The Dragon Wings are in red and are like jewels....bloom all season and I take cuttings. A decent house plant. Sun coleus gives spectacular color, too. I listed some just green but you will spot that in a heartbeat.