I am asked at least once a week: "What looks pretty all year?" And the fact is, if you are like me and like a big show, not much.  I suppose evergreens have their place (just not in my yard...with the exception of camellias and gardenias, for obvious reasons). While I do find the winter months UNBEARABLE, it is a necessary part of the life cycle of most plants.  In fact, a peony will not bloom without a hard freeze.  That little tidbit alone gets me through the winter blues.  You can kick and scream and throw every manner of hissy fit, but fighting Mother Nature can be harsh, but she makes up for it in the spring!  Generally, my rule of thumb for my nursery is that I don't grow anything that will not grow here and survive.  The second question I get is: "Does it come back?"  While people buy petunias and coleus all day every day from big box stores, I have not found it lucrative for business when I have to answer, "No, you will have to plant it again next year."  The only acception that I make is for veggies, herbs, and Calendula, which, if you don't know, it like Porter's Lintament Salve that my grandmother would slap on every wound from a spider bite to a splinter (and I'm sure if an amputation was required, she would use it for that as well).  But Calendula is especially wonderful for those pesky, all-summer long, mosquito bites and will take the fire out of a fire ant bit (take that, you bullies...fire ants are terrible people!) Now, since I have the attention span of a potato, I think everyone else does, so here's something pretty to look at:

Above is Cranberry Crush hibiscus, a new close personal friend I met over the summer.  To the right is what I call Purple Heart, either Tradescantia Pallida or Setcreasea Pallida, depending on the day of the week and who you ask (but if you are asking ME, Tradescantia.  I know many of the family and this one absolutely belongs!

And back to the sun perennials....
Perennials are the best.  Most need little attention once established.  Many of my plants were (and are) propagated from my grandmother's plants, whom I lost several years ago.  I have not been back to the home I spent my summer and holidays since I lost my grandparents.  But I can say that I know that many of her gardens are still there...a vinyard bought their property and rennovated the house.  My grandfather's gazebo is still standing as well, from what I understand they moved it, but now special occasions like weddings are performed there.  I'm grateful so many people can enjoy it but, if I'm being completely honest, there is a pang of jealousy, but I am grateful they didn't demolish the entire property and build a cookie-cutter neighborhood.

Me in my grandfather Paul's gazebo

Burntshirt Vinyards (the same gazebo and (some of) my grandmother Kathleen's gardens