Award-winner Geum 'Mrs J. Bradshaw' is a clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with masses of showy, semi-double, rich scarlet orange flowers, 1.5 in. across (4.5cm), appearing in late spring to early summer. Very striking in the garden when in bloom, they last for weeks and bring strong color to the early summer border. They give way to attractive, fluffy seed heads. Borne on sparsely leafed purple stems, they rise well above the handsome foliage of dark green, pinnate basal leaves. Forms a spreading mound of evergreen, coarsely textured, dark green leaves, up to 24-30 in. high (60-75 cm) and 12-18 in. wide (30-45 cm).

Aquilegia Crimson Star' is very eye-catching with its long-spurred, bright crimson-red flowers with a white corolla, rising with natural grace above a compact mound of fern-like, light green foliage. Blooming for 4-6 weeks in late spring to early summer, this perennial is generally short-lived but will self-seed prolifically. Grows in a bushy, upright clump, up to 24-30 in. tall (60-75 cm) and 18-24 in. wide (45-60 cm).

Very ornamental, Atriplex hortensis var. rubra (Red Mountain Spinach) is an erect, hardy annual plant, with lance-shaped, thin, deep red-purple leaves, 6 in. long (15 cm) and vertical racemes packed with tiny red-purple flowers, which give way to papery seeds. Slightly salty, the leaves are delicious in salads or cooked like spinach. A multiple-purpose plant!

A highly popular golden-leaved variety, Tanacetum parthenium 'Aureum' (Golden Feverfew) is a mounded, clump-forming, dwarf cultivar with sprays of small white daisies atop a particularly decorative aromatic foliage. Emerging chartreuse, the feathery, fern-like foliage of pinnately lobed leaves turns green by midsummer. It is fragrant when bruised or crushed. Vigorous, this  short-lived perennial will light up your garden beds from early to late summer. Allowing some seeding will keep this lovely plant in the garden.

Prized for its flamboyant, rich blue flowers, Centaurea montana (Mountain Cornflower) is an erect, stoloniferous, clump-forming perennial with fringed, blue flowers, 2 in. wide (5 cm), adorned with reddish blue, thistle-like centers from late spring to early summer. Attracting bees, butterflies and other admirers, the thistle-like blossoms may bloom again in late summer-early fall. The flowers appear atop unbranched stems above the foliage of soft, gray-green, lance-shaped leaves. Native to Europe, this rhizomatous perennial will self-seed prolifically if not deadheaded and may spread fairly quickly to form colonies in satisfactory growing conditions.

Adding a bright note to the garden year-round, award-winner Yucca gloriosa 'Variegata' (Spanish Dagger) is a very ornamental, broadleaf evergreen shrub featuring a basal rosette of attractive, rigid, sword-shaped, spine-tipped blue-green leaves, striped and edged creamy-yellow. They are topped in early summer with a dramatic flowering stalk reaching 4 ft. (120 cm) and bearing dense panicles of nodding bell-shaped creamy white flowers. Adds architectural interest to the garden.

A lovely variegated sport of Sedum 'Autumn Joy', 'Autumn Charm' produces gray-green leaves with soft yellow, serrated edges fading to creamy-white. The attractive foliage is topped in late summer with showy creamy buds, which open to light pink flowers in early fall, before being followed by russet red seed heads. 'Autumn Charm' is very stable and keeps its handsome variegated foliage. 'Autumn Charm' is very stable and keeps its handsome variegated foliage. This deciduous perennial forms a 14-18 in. tall (35-45cm) and 18 in. wide (45 cm) clump of thick, fleshy foliage topped with flowerbuds resembling broccoli. Gradually, these densely clustered buds will reveal tiny, star-like pink flowers in early fall