On Sun, 25 May 2003 03:29:32 -0400, Rich Heimlich
wrote:

"Vox Humana" wrote:

I think your expectations are a bit high for a single perennial. Most
people plant their perennial borders with a wide variety of plants that
bloom at various times over the growing season. You could start with spring

But if you want a full bed how would you pull that off? Only small pieces would
be in color then.

annuals and others converted to perennial beds. It is nearly unimaginable
that a person could spend $1500 on annuals! That would be around 200 flats
with a quantity discount, maybe more.

Well, I can't get a flat here for less than $12 where you have yours at $7.50
above. I also have a large number of beds. I paid to have this done last year
and now I'm spoiled. It was incredible. Various colors the entire season from
April to October and just completely blanketed.

As far as doing nothing, that's what's happening right now in most of those beds
and so far, not a hint of a single plant for last year can be seen. All the
perennials are back and well on their way including the small dianthus which is
already in bloom. The clematis on the mailbox is already over the mailbox and
close to blooming. The nursery said I'd never see the impatiens again and so far
they seem to be the correct ones, sadly.

Possibilities: for $1500, you ought to be able to get a garden
center/nursery professional to work up a plan for various perennials
that would (eventually) provide the sort of display you want, as well
as buying a large number of the plants suggested. This probably
wouldn't be perfect the first year, as many perennials take some time
to become established. But in 2-3 years...

If you have time and space enough, impatiens are *very* easy to root
from cuttings. And fairly fast-growing. I usually take some cuttings
before frost (later here than your zone), root in water, and plant
again in the spring. Not on the scale you're talking about, but they
*do* grow so easily. I got 2 hanging basketsful and a very nice
shrub-front display from a single 6-pack of small plants and some very
persnickety pruning and rooting.