Other plants northerner gardeners may consider (no fail for far north) are these.

top (two by mistake) Shrub honeysuckle, third White "Wind flowers" Anenome family?

Third a Hardy white shrub rose, this one is close to 10 feet tall. Do you know the name of the Iris in picture 6 . We have some of them as well. Chic.

Chic, stunning blooms! Thank you so much for the photos, that rose bush is absolutely amazing. Unfortunately, I don't know the name of the purple and white iris, they were passed onto me by a fellow neighbour. If anyone else knows the ID of it, I'd love to know as well. It is quite common around here, I've seen the same type growing in a few places.

I'd have to see a closer picture, but the purple and white iris might be Rhein Nixe...fairly common and an older variety.

Great pics guys! Some years I'm really good about taking pictures...this year I haven't taken even one!

Thank you so much Weeper, yes when I search it, that looks exactly like it!

One of my hobbies is photography, but I've been lazy and have been using a cellphone camera, I should get the DSLR out one day. Here's a phIto from today of a bed we've been working on for a few years now, I'm really happy with how it has filled out, I am going for a cottage garden look.

I think it looks great! Lots of different textures and I like the repetition of the silver mounds.