A fascinating Chinese Peony, award-winner Peony 'Bowl of Beauty' (Paeonia lactiflora) is incredibly beautiful in bloom! The large anemone-shaped blossoms, 8 in. wide (20 cm), are rich rose-pink on the outside and densely packed with soft yellow strap-like petals at their heart. Delightfully fragrant, they are borne on strong stems. Reliable and vigorous. Up to 24-36 in. in height (60-90 cm). Late Midseason Peony. Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society

A truly magnificent sight in the early to mid summer garden, award-winning Geranium x magnificum (Purple Cranesbill) is a hybrid hardy geranium forming dense mounds of large, 2 in. wide (5 cm), rich violet-blue, heavily veined, saucer-shaped flowers atop a velvety, deeply-lobed foliage that turns red in fall. While the flowering season of this geranium is fairly short (a couple of weeks), it is so intense and stunning that, coupled with this fall color interest, a garden spot should be dedicated to it.

Cultivated since the 19th century, award-winner Alchemilla mollis (Lady's Mantle) provides a lovely finish to a border or a path edge and blends beautifully with most perennials. This clump-forming perennial forms dense, leafy mounds of scallop-edged, toothed, densely hairy, light green leaves which nicely retain moisture beads after the rain.

Much less aggressive than the species, Lysimachia punctata 'Alexander' (Yellow Loosestrife) is a perennial plant with stunning ornamental value, producing sturdy, upright stems loaded with striking variegated foliage consisting of whorls of lime green serrated leaves with bright creamy edges that emerge with a pink blush in spring and age to white. Masses of cup-shaped, golden yellow flowers, tinged in red at their heart appear in early summer for a long blooming season ending in late summer. Easy to grow, this Yellow Loosestrife is excellent at providing a fast-spreading cover when required, creating great visual impact.