How about spring bulbs - daffodils or tulips.

Iris?

Iris was my first thought, too.

Maybe some Yarrow? Not sure if that's enough sun, though. Mine are in stompin' full sun and seem quite happy.

How about some columbine? They flower early (like now) but I don't know much else about them - they're sitting on my sidewalk waiting to be planted =)

Is is dry or damp where you want to put the plants??

Lynne in Bowie

Thank you for all these great suggestions. I do have spring bulbs, mostly tulips, but they are just about gone. So now is when I'd like to have something colorful. I was just thinking of iris's too. Do you have any suggestions for ones that would bloom now? Columbine sounds nice too. It's a full sun area and rather moist. We have a sprinkler system which goes on every morning. I was also thinking of beebalm. Do those bloom before coneflowers? I have yarrow growing by the mail box and in the back. I love it, but I don't think it's tall enough.

Some bleeding heart might look nice. Mine are in full bloom right now, and are spectacular. Just as they start to die back the coneflowers around them really take off.

Echinacea in my garden doesn't always come back in exactly the same place! so I have it with other plants that tend to do the same thing, like white daisies, black eyes susans, and mums. I find that iris will grow right over them and they'll be gone. unless its with equally competing plants, they wont make it.