This is suppose to be good for April through June for the foliage which is suppose to be the same as fall leaves. I think that would be really cool.
Heuchera (Coral Bells or Alum-Root) ‘Amber Waves’

Helleborus care

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Having added the need for the plants to be dought tolerant I've made some definite changes. Here is what I've found on my safari's through the on-line catalogs lol.

January these plants don't necessarily bloom in winter but they are suppose to carry either foliage, seedpods or stems that will add winter interest and color to the garden.

Arum italicum ssp. italicum 'Winter White'**
Galanthus nivalis 'Flore Pleno'( Full Sun/partial shade)
Euphorbia ** (all seasons all varieties)
Salvia o. 'Icterina'**
Andropogon gerardii (very hardy)
Cotoneaster dammeri**(red berries in winter)
Hamamelis x int. ‘Jelena’
Hamamelis x int. ‘Diane’
Helleborus x nigercors ‘Honeyhill Joy’
Helleborus x hyb. 'Blue Lady'
Helleborus x hyb. 'Red Lady'
Hepatica acutiloba
Kniphofia uvaria 'Christmas Cheer'**
Mahonia reptans**
Phlomis c. 'Cashmere Sage'**(seedheads)

Febuary: Here are some early bloomers according to my research. The only ones I have so far are the snapdragons and I love those.

Miniature snapdragons* (full sun, partial shade)
Crocus
Snowdrops (full sun, partial shade)
Pink Shamrock **
Euphorbia ** (all seasons all varieties)

March: Of course the end of this month is when Mother nature really likes to show off so finding flowers for this time of the year was really easy.

Miniature snapdragons (full sun, partial shade)
Trillium erectum purple color** (shade)
Pink Shamrock **
Armeria maritima ‘Rubrifolia’ Ruby Sea Thrift** (full sun) (8" tall)
Heuchera (Coral Bells) ‘Amber Waves’ **
Heuchera ‘Amethyst Myst’ **
Euphorbia ** (all seasons all varieties)
Epimedium perr. 'Frohnleiten'**

April

Miniature snapdragons (full sun, partial shade)
Trillium (shade)**
Columbine (partial shade)
Babies Breath (full sun)
Artemisia stelleriana 'Silver Brocade'**
Malva Zebrina**
Pink Shamrock **
Armeria maritima ‘Rubrifolia’ Ruby Sea Thrift** (full sun) (8" tall)
Heuchera (Coral Bells) ‘Amber Waves’**
Heuchera ‘Amethyst Myst’**
Lantana camara hybrid New Gold**
Euphorbia ** (all seasons all varieties)

May

Miniature snapdragons (full sun, partial shade)
Peonies (full sun, partial shade)
Columbine (partial shade)
Babies Breath (full sun)
Artemisia**
Malva Zebrina**
Ladies Mantle
Pink Shamrock **
Armeria maritima ‘Rubrifolia’ Ruby Sea Thrift** (full sun) (8" tall)
Heuchera (Coral Bells) ‘Amber Waves’**
Heuchera ‘Amethyst Myst’**
Lantana camara hybrid New Gold**
Euphorbia ** (all seasons all varieties)

June: I had to add some plants that aren't drought tolerant to this part of the plan. Because they are flowers that I just really really like and don't want to do without. I guess the landlord and I will just have to be at odds over these.

Miniature snapdragons (full sun, partial shade)
Peonies (full sun, partial shade)
Columbine (partial shade)
Babies Breath (full sun)
Artemisia**
Malva Zebrina**
Ladies Mantle
Lunaria needs moisture
Impatient (partial shade, shade)
Sparkler Allium
Pink Shamrock **
Armeria maritima ‘Rubrifolia’ Ruby Sea Thrift** (full sun) (8" tall)
Caryopteris divaricata ‘Snow Fairy’ (Variegated Bluebeard) ** (Full Sun)
Heuchera (Coral Bells) ‘Amber Waves’**
Heuchera ‘Amethyst Myst’ **
Lantana camara hybrid New Gold**
Yellow Prairie Coneflower - Ratibida Columnaris**
Euphorbia ** (all seasons all varieties)
Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'**
Mahonia reptans**

July: I'm pretty sure I am way over my space requirements on this one lol. I only have around 300 sq ft to garden in.

Portulaca (full sun)
Carnations (full sun)
Rain lilies
Marigolds (full sun)
Glads (full sun)
Cannas (full sun)
Holly Hocks (full sun)
Babies Breath (full sun)
Artemisia
Zinnia (full sun)
Straw Flowers
Cordalis (partial shade, shade)
Woodruff
Impatients (partial shade, shade)
Pink Shamrock **
Caryopteris divaricata ‘Snow Fairy’ (Variegated Bluebeard) ** (Full Sun)
Oenothera fruticosa ssp. glauca
‘Spring Gold’ ('Frühlingsgold' )(Sun Drops)**
Lantana camara hybrid New Gold**
Yellow Prairie Coneflower - Ratibida Columnaris**
Euphorbia ** (all seasons all varieties)
Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'**
Delosperma cooperii**
Phlomis c. 'Cashmere Sage'**

August

Portulaca (full sun)**
Carnations (full sun)
Rainlilies
Marigolds (full sun)
cannas (full sun)
hollyhocks
babies breath (full sun)
artemisia
zinnia (full sun)
straw flowers
woodruff
Impatients (partial shade, shade)
Pink Shamrock **
Caryopteris divaricata ‘Snow Fairy’ (Variegated Bluebeard) ** (Full Sun)
Crocosmia ‘Solfaterre’ (Bronze Montbretia)**
Lantana camara hybrid New Gold**
Yellow Prairie Coneflower - Ratibida Columnaris**
Euphorbia ** (all seasons all varieties)
Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'**
Delosperma cooperii**
Phlomis c. 'Cashmere Sage'**

September

Columbine (partial shade)
Marigolds (full sun)
zinnia (full sun)
straw flowers
woodruff*
Miniature snapdragons (full sun, partial shade)
Impatients (partial shade, shade)
Pink Shamrock **
Crocosmia ‘Solfaterre’ (Bronze Montbretia)**
Lantana camara hybrid New Gold**
Yellow Prairie Coneflower - Ratibida Columnaris**
Euphorbia ** (all seasons all varieties)
Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'**
Delosperma cooperii**
Phlomis c. 'Cashmere Sage'**

October

Columbine (partial shade)
Marigolds (full sun)
Strawflowers
Miniature snapdragons (full sun, partial shade)
Yellow Prairie Coneflower - Ratibida Columnaris**
Euphorbia ** (all seasons all varieties)
Salvia o. 'Icterina'**
Andropogon gerardii (very hardy)
Delosperma cooperii**

November

Delosperma cooperii**

Arum italicum ssp. italicum 'Winter White'**
Galanthus nivalis 'Flore Pleno'( Full Sun/partial shade)
Euphorbia ** (all seasons all varieties)
Salvia o. 'Icterina'**
Andropogon gerardii (very hardy)
Cotoneaster dammeri**(red berries in winter)
Hamamelis x int. ‘Jelena’
Hamamelis x int. ‘Diane’
Helleborus x nigercors ‘Honeyhill Joy’
Helleborus x hyb. 'Blue Lady'
Helleborus x hyb. 'Red Lady'
Hepatica acutiloba
Kniphofia uvaria 'Christmas Cheer'**
Mahonia reptans**
Phlomis c. 'Cashmere Sage'**(seedheads)

Whew that's a bunch of planning and note taking isn't it. But, now I have the bare bones of a plan that I can begin to work with to create a garden that is attractive all year round although it is very small. Wish me luck and please add your garden favorites with their usually bloom times to the string.

Containters are a great idea as long as I can make them difficult to walk off with and something that the landlord will not take exception to.

It's a very fine line I walk with the property belonging to someone else. I definitely want to start some semi-aggressive ground covers to make it more attractive.

I'm looking for ones that don't require additional watering since the landlord pays for the water and he feels that he has paid way to much in water this year. But I want them to be friendly to the plants that I am putting in there on purpose. So it's kind of hard to figure out exactly what is the perfect plant you know.

I'm sure I'm going about this the wrong way around I have a tendency to do that, but I'm definitely giving it the old college try lol.

Thankyou for your input.

That sounds really cool.

I planted some helleborus this year and am anxious to see what they do this year. Suppose to bloom around ash Wednesday in my neck of the woods.

I am planning some cone flowers and decorative grasses for next year. I want a cottage garden look in my front bed.

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GO DAWGS!

I don't know about Queen Anne Lace. It tends to grow wildly doesn't it? I think maybe not for the time being. Thanks for the offer though.

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GO DAWGS!

This is impressive - I hope it works for you.

It will be interesting to see how it all turns out.

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When sorting seeds, do not whistle.

Then I guess it's buying all the right seeds. I bought every type of seed/bulb that I didn't need this year lol. Oh well, live, plant, and learn lol.

Is there a certain color scheme you are going for?

Wild Snap Dragon is a nice plant..They grow TALL. I noticed you have snap dragon on your lists a lot. Just a suggestion...http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/53561/

I never liked Black eyed susan but have some, they bloom all summer and sometimes into winter in zone 7.

Your plan looks good to me. Very ambitious, I wish I could plan a garden like that.

I may have overlooked it, but I didn't notice Pansies on your list. They will grow fall through spring in zone 7, wilting in freezing weather and then springing back and blooming anytime the weather warms for a week or so. You'll have blooms in fall, much of the winter, and throughout spring. Dianthus can bloom off and on through much of this time.

TK...I just checked my pansies after a record low temp of 5 degrees, and while the flowers looked wilty, much of the foliage was still looking great! Only drawback is that they're annuals!

TK, here in NC pansy will stay from October or November until the sun wilts them in June or July. Johnny never did get mine out this winter but it sure is nice to have that color all through the winter. They'd probably do well where you are.

I have one helleborus. It blooms while it's still cold. I only bought one because they're kind of expensive at Lowe's. $6.00 a plant.

If you want a beautiful, good smelling, shrub a daphne a dora is wonderul. It blooms in February and smells delicious.

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http://www.picturetrail.com/bestofour