Wisconsin Gardeners!!!?

Question

I am in the Milwauke Area. I know it is a bit late, I am looking to plant plants outside around my house.

I am looking for something that lives/blooms June thru October. If it comes back every year, that is ok!

Not interested in daphidils, they bloom in april before the last freeze and are dead within a week.... Months before summer season even arrives...

Does anyone have any suggestions???

Thank You for your help!!!

Answer 1

Northwest Wis, here.  I love the annual Begonia for the northside (shade lover) of my house.  Mine have been blooming 3 weeks now, will keep on until it freezes.  I have them in pots, bring them in during the winter to 48 degrees.  Don't water until Spring, they come again from the tuber.  Beautiful blooms of bright scarlet or bright yellow depending on your tuber.  Not sure of all the colors as red or yellow are my favorite.

Answer 2

plants with fall interest:

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=plants+...

fall vegetable gardens:

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=fall+ve...

plants with winter interest:

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=plants+...

with ______ interest<<that means it displays interesting color or form of some type during the season named. not necessarily flowers or leaf interest. maybe berries or branch color or whatever.

cultivation information:

http://www.hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/...

hardiness zones and frost dates for Wisconsin:

http://www.wpt.org/garden/links/

cold climate gardening forum and links:

http://www.coldclimategardening.com/cold...

all around garden forum:

http://www.helpfulgardener.com/phpBB2/

brand new wisconsin garden forum (4 members!):

http://www.wigardens.com/forums/

garden clubs and flower parks/public gardens of wisconsin:

http://www.hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/

various links:

http://www.hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/...

Answer 3

This is a great time to head over to Plantland, or Stein's, or Minor's, or whichever garden center is closest to you.  Most greenhouses still have a great selection of perennials, and some of them may even be on sale.

The main thing to watch for when buying new plants is the hardiness zone.  For our long, cold, Milwaukee winters pick plants that are rated Zone 5 or less.  (Some zone 6 plants might survive the frosts if they are in a very sheltered area).  Some of the easiest plants to start with are native wildflowers (or close relatives), such as Purple Coneflower (Echinacea), black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), bee-balm (Monarda), musk mallow (Malva moschata), Daisies, and New-England Asters.  If you have a shady / partial sun area, you could also try shade tolerant plants such as lungwort (Pulmonaria), Jacob's ladder (Polemonium), or any of the perennial Geranium varieties.

There are no rules about mixing plants other than keeping the tall-growing varieties towards the rear of the garden bed, and the shorter ones to the front.  Just read the flower tags on each plant for growing sizes.

Good luck !!!