Ok, first the chlorine shouldn't be a big deal on most plants. So, aiming for things that aren't prickly and don't attract bees... for small shrubs, dogwood and spirea come to mind. Both do attract bees but they bloom early when they probably won't be using the pool. For perennials, my favourite perennial in the whole world this year is Penstemon 'Dwarf Navigator'. It's tidy, bright coloured, trouble-free, blooms a ton, and I don't notice a lot of bees around it. Also Painted Daisies, columbine, and hardy geraniums (cranes-bills) come to mind. Most flowers attract bees a bit but bees aren't overly crazy about any of these in my experience.

Hope that helps to start it off, what's everyone else think?

Low growing perennials such as the yellow stonecrop, dragon's blood or kamschatka sedum should be fine in the full sun by the pool. Hens and Chicks (sempervivums) and jovibarbas would be great too. Blue fescue would not attract bees. Standard dwarf bearded irises would be great along the front of the border as well as miniature daylilies. Some hostas might be okay there also.

As for the bees...I have worked outside all summer for hours each day in and around the bees and all the flowers. I have been bitten a few times by the tiniest little bees that would be only 1/8" long but never any of the large bumblebees or honey bees that seem to enjoy the flowers also.

Brenda

I've never been stung by bees either - I assume the concern is that lots of kids are scared of &/or allergic to bees. I had to think hard because I purposely plant flowers that attract bumble bees, I like them.

I would be concerned about the chlorine from the pool. When my daughter was small, we put an 8 foot pool on the patio next to wooden planters that bordered the patio. The chlorine killed whatever I put in there. Would you believe that even bishop's weed suffered? The other planter further away from the pool was fine.

Danni

Gil, in my experience, cranesbill is a real bee attraction. As for the chlorine, it might affect the foliage if it's splashed on plants. I think there's probably a greater concentration of it in pools than in tap water. Plants don't seem to care about being watered with tap water but pool water might be another thing.

My suggestion would be potentilla shrubs. They are tough as nails, will tolerate all that heat etc, and I bet they wouldn't mind the pool water either although I can't be certain of that. They put on a long season of bloom and are pretty low maintenance other than a hard pruning every once in a while. They also come in a variety of colors and heights.