Common name:Apple Serviceberry
Botanical name:Amelanchier x grandiflora

A hybrid between A. arborea and A. laevis, the new leaves of this species have the pubescent foliage of the former and the purplish cast of the later. Summer foliage is a soft green, turning orange to scarlet in the fall. This hybrid has larger and showier flowers then either parent. Numerous cultivars have been selected from this species, including 'Princess Diana,' 'Prince William,' and 'Cole's Select.' Generally 18 to 25 feet tall and about half as wide. Grown as both a single or multi-stemmed small tree or shrub. Lovely as a specimen or in masses.

Common name:Lady's Mantle
Botanical name:Alchemilla mollis

Lady's mantle may have the most charming foliage of any garden perennial, with its rounded to gently lobed, densely haired, chartreuse foliage, and its radial pleats and crimped edges. The leave's pleats, crimps, and hairs work together to hold little droplets of water that look jewel-like with just a little light. And as if that isn't enough, soft, frothy, yellow-green flowers hover above the plant from early summer through autumn. Ideal for dry shade areas; will need a little more water if planted in full sun. Lovely cut flower. Grows 1 to 1-1/2 feet tall and 2 feet wide.

Common name:Helene von Stein Lamb's Ear
Botanical name:Stachys byzantina 'Helene von Stein'

'Helene von Stein' is a cultivar or S. byzantina, and is a dense, mat-forming perennial with velvety, soft, grayish white leaves. This cultivar has larger leaves than others and is more heat and humidity resistant. Though reported to not have flowers, eventually, in time, some may begin to appear. The foliage grows to about 8 to 12 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide. Use in rock gardens, sunny borders, along walks, and in parkstrips.

Common name:English Lavender
Botanical name:Lavandula angustifolia

English lavender is a dependably hardy, heat tolerant, drought resistant perennial, well suited to our arid, cold climate. Aromatic, green to grey-green foliage has a rich, resin scent, and grows in tight clumps 1 to 2 feet in height and width, depending on variety. Flowers form at the ends of stiff stems, in whorls of blue to lavender to purple, again, depending on variety. Flowers may add another 6 to 12 inches of height. Use in any sunny spot, such as perennial border, herb garden, parkstrip, lining a pathway.

Common name:Catmint
Botanical name:Nepeta x faassenii

Catmint makes soft, grey-green, rounded mounds from 10 to 24 inches high, depending on variety. Most will be wider than tall. This perennial has lavender blue flowers from late spring to early summer, though if you shear off the first flowers, it will frequently bloom again later in the summer. Different varieties have slightly different bloom times. Leaves are attractive, crinkled blue-grey and are aromatic.

Common name:Blue Fescue
Botanical name:Festuca ovina glauca

This group of ornamental grasses generally grow less than a foot tall and have fine, green to blue-green, evergreen leaves that are very thin and hair-like. Flowers appear in the summer and have an airy and open appearance. Prefers full sun but will tolerate afternoon shade if not over-watered. It needs well draining soil and is drought tolerant once it's established. An evergreen, it may need tidying up in the spring; trim out dead foliage and seed heads.

Common name:Elfin Creeping Thyme
Botanical name:Thymus praecox arcticus 'Elfin'

All of the thymes are relatively low growing creepers. Elfin Thyme has attractive, soft, gray-green foliage that forms a slow spreading, tightly matted mound. This is a perfect plant for between pavers and if you have the patience, it makes a nice lawn alternative. The lavender-pink flowers bloom in early summer and attract bees and butterflies. Grows 1 to 2 inches tall, with a spread of 12 to 18 inches.