I've never grown in zone 5 - so can't help you there, but thinking that columbines are easy from seed and usually an "early" flower. Foxy foxglove - though short - is usually reliable first year from seed. MarthaStewart.com has a Gardening tab that has Browse Plants and under that you can choose to browse plants by bloom time (you may want to browse spring and summer). I'd definately check before you count on her list (they have a dahlia as spring - unless it's greenhouse grown wouldn't even be blooming for me in zone 9 in spring ..). List a tad tedious as lists different varieties - say of tulips in spring - but an easy enough browse. Keep a notepad and pen in the car and make notes this year of things you see in others gardens/parks in bloom in June that you like. Another GREAT resource is a book Container Gardening by Paul Williams - browse it at a borders or barnes. If you're into Netflix get Rebecca's gardening Container Gardening volume - really fantastic ideas from different places (denver botanic garden, this grower/designer/that one..). You may want to plan more textures/colors from leaves and such than flowers to have good looking containers no matter what. (see next comment). Consider using a lot of "house plants" in your containers as you can grow them larger indoors over the winter and June should be fine - coleus is one I wouldn't winter sow for the event (unless you're doing it now) - take cuttings to grow inside over the winter of 2008/2009. Easy plants like "wandering jew" can give you good greens for arrangements - you could give them a big cutback 6 weeks before - stick stems in water (they'll root - that easy) them trim the rooted water cuttings for table arrangements. Also for arrangements - think greens. Note what trees have leafed out that you can insert small branches of, which shrubs - which are variegated or have different colors. There's a variegated leaf weigela that should be "in leaf" if not bloom at that time that would be lovely. Go through a "what's the worst that could happen" exercise (this will help you approach the day more calmly - you DO want to enjoy it - as you'll have reconciled yourself to the thought that things may not go perfectly). Say Rain that day - then you have tents if needed. Crushing rain within the week prior - then you have torn up flowers of the ones that were in bloom - so plan that you can trim and - worst case - spread lots of bark mulch for a very neat look (know where's the best place for mulch ahead of time). Totally different winter next year than this - say it's much warmer earlier or very late cold snaps - all your timing's off. You've already figured out the best places you can pick up flats of annuals and bark mulch. And so forth. Have some $$ in the budget for last minute fixes. Trim all flowering buds off your plants through mid-late May (say roses I'd go to about 5 weeks before the date) - push the plant to bloom when you want where it's possible. Fertilize roses around 2nd/3RD week of May. Every now and again remind yourself you're not superwoman. Coordinating the reception will be huge - the garden only a piece of it. And, you want to have enough energy left to enjoy the day itself. Don't plan on too much last detail stuff for the garden (you mention this is your oldest daughter - siblings and friends of siblings who'd be cheap labor you can train this year on how to spread mulch? plant a flat of annuals? You WILL be busy! Keep us informed and in the loop as you go through your planning this summer (we all love this kind of post - it's so much fun!)

Oh HAPPY DAY..JOY JOY Mailman brought a box today from Dawn/Mamabirrd and What a Box :-) Two Named Daylilies she sent Tuscawilla Tigress and Double Grapette.(thanks to both Marea and Mary S too.) Clump Spiritual Corridor One unknown daylily and it's a double..to kewl :-) One Allium Gladiator..Love alliums Pulmonaria Mrs Moon..Thank you...lost this one a few years back. Sedum John Creech Sedum Weinstephaner Gold both zoned for 4..Ya Baby!!Oh and ladies small sedums make great ground cover. Icicle Pansy,Purlpe..my oldest always picked out pansy's for his plants for garden,when he was younger.So you couldn't have picked a better plant to send. Echeveria Harmsii...have to look this one up..have no idea about this one..houseplant I know. Bag of Miracle Gro for feeding the dayliles,with a measuring spoon too. Cute anything was a Stained Glass Pot Hanger,a flower pot with a yellow daisy.So pretty Daylily marker...oh man how did you know?? PAINT PEN I needed a new one so bad..to kewl..I can mark all kinds of dayliles..without swearing...LOL Bag of Candy..Boy oh boy..she sent a BAG with all kinds of candy..a big bag of Peanut M&M's(my fav)MamaG don't look I really don't like pain M&M's.a bag of Jelly Bellys a bag of penny candy and Sarris Candy bar..now this one is made local in her area..can't wait to try it.. and then,and then she sent Birdbird a treat too..How sweet is that..Fresh walnuts..He ate every last piece of the one I gave him today.. Very pretty stationery(bird,go figure) with note and list of all she sent...BIG HUGS..OH BIG BIG HUGS TO YOU DAWN.. Planted most of it today with get the rest in the ground tomorow. And if that wasn't enough UPS brought me a box too..Peony's for Klehm's Song..nice roots too :-) Coral N Gold Cuckoos Nest...will be praying that they bloom next year..I know..most doesn't that soon..I don't wait well :-( ??? for ya all...does anyone else have trouble finding daylilies..I mean..oh I don't know..I plant and then I play search and destroy..LOL..I'm looking for one and I can't find the darn thing..and yes Cody its for you..LOL..and whats hostas..I don't have any hostas...evil,evil grin. Anita Mr Man is just so cute..sending more kisses to him..So happy for you. Sharon your garden is Beautifull..Love the spring picture and the now picture.. Dianne I really like your Garden window..What a wonderful idea..ground cover,Dead Nettle.White Nancy and others are good.I have them all over..The purple one can get alittle tall,but is still very pretty. Canna,Loving all your pictures..yes the frogs too..LOL Wow Shirley..that story has been out for years..The first time I saw it was in Ann Leaders,many many years ago..LOL Anyone that doesn't read thier credit card receipt before they sign it,is just NUTS..Great cookie recipe tho.. It's supost to get down to 40's tonigth..NO NO I'm not ready to the cold..not yet!!! THANK YOU DAWN..YOU ARE WONDERFULL. Nite all sweet dreams,Jean

Here I am again after coming in a few minutes ago. We could have worse vices, yes. I didn't realize the Dowdeswell Delphs were the NZ types. My good gardening friend, and far more experienced than I at growing perennials, grows these. I saw them a couple of weeks ago at her garden, and I've never seen such lovely delphs. I can't get her to take photos, so I can't share any pics, darn. I would be interested in the shorter ones you mentioned because of our awful wind. I expect to stake anything like that out here, but it gets to you after a while. If you hear anything more about the shorter ones, please let us know. As a cheap substitute for tall flowers like foxglove and delphiniums, I use double hollyhocks. They are quite lovely in all sorts of pastels, reseeding readily. I also gather seed and throw it out starting in late autumn. They are in all stages of growth and blooming, which means when half of them are blown down, there are more coming along. I never tie them up, and of course, they are the type of plant that really breaks good when they blow down. There's no saving them then. Jim, those marigolds are really stunning. I think I'll try them next year. I didn't realize that they were slug food in some areas. Definitely not here, though. I grow a lot of calendula or pot marigold, not a true marigold like you grow, more by accident than anything. They look good for about three weeks max, then go to seed. and do they produce seed. I really don't like them very well, and they are the darn blister beetles' favorite food. I like your train track scene, very green and beckoning--makes me want to walk along the tracks in that cool green grass. Well, back to viewing the hired goats eat brush out back. DianePoor woman's delphiniums. Diane

Molie, I have a few white daylilies, but 'Light the Way' is really quite stunning. I also love 'Delia O'Brian Brown'. Steve, I can smell those lilies through the screen! And I'm sneezing! LOL! I really love the look of lilies, but I'm so allergic to them. Tried them for a couple years but just had too many issues. Then the beetles came.......then I really gave up. Will have to continue to enjoy your great photos! Isn't Marie's garden awesome?! I'm so glad Barb took pics while we were there. One of those gardens that is just so much fun to stroll around and find all the cool stuff planted. Such a wide variety. Claire, my viburnum was flowering beautifully, until they all started to turn brown, shrivel up and fall off. So no berries for me this year. I was just happy that the shrub appears to be OK. I was a little worried when the flowers were giving it up. I really like that carefree delight rose. Soooo pretty. Rooguchi clematis has been a blooming powerhouse for weeks. It doesn't show much sign of slowing down yet. Mohawk viburnum with its beautiful berry display. I love the way they change colors over time. Sorry for the blurry photo. I really need to ditch my point and shoot and go back to my D-SLR. But you get the idea. It's loaded with berries.....and the birds and critters never eat them. The daylily bed never disappoints. Delphiniums are now all cut down in cottage area. Hoping for a repeat bloom this fall.