Question
whats are the best perennials for me to grow in connecticut, i want med flowers that will bloom all summer, in sun/shade, and how to get the ground ready

Answer
Not even a question about the spring:
Full Sun:
Crocus
Creeping phlox (3") a ground cover
Grape hyacinth (6")
Regular hyacinth (10-12" and very fragrant)
Daffodils-12-14" and there are dozens of color combinations)
Tulips- (12-16") and in a great variety of size and color
Partial sun and shade:
Crocus
Grape hyacinth
Candytuft

And on into summer (listed in no particular order)
Iris
Lady's Mantle
Mountain bluebells
Cranesbills
Summer phlox (the tall ones)
Bee balm (spreads wildly)
Gooseneck loosestrife (REALLY takes over)
Obedient flowers
Butterfly weed (also fall)
Balloon flower

On into fall:
Cardinal flower
Aster (lots of sizes and colors)
Sage
Bostonian
Chrysanthemum
Goldenrod

A great book to get is:
The Time Life Complete Gardener>Three Seasons of Bloom
ISBN# 0-7835-4117-1

I RALLY can help you with the shade planting also but I will need a little info on that. There is NO hurry for you to plant in the shade--you usually do it in the spring!

There are "types" of shade and I would like to know what kinds you have:
#1=Light or Dappled shade-bright  enough for most plants even with instructions that say "full sun"-will tolerate light shade.  Light moves around area but no direct sun remains in any place long.

#2 Open Shade=Northern exposure with light that is bright, rarely ANY direct sun
#3 Medium shade= this area starts to sort out the plants that tolerate shade and shifts to plants that prefer shade. (under small trees, is an example)

#4  Deep Shade= Limits the plant selection to those hardy plants which need VERY limited light to survive (mosses). Plants grow very slowly


I can suggest the best book I have found though---
Shade Gardens published by the National Home Gardening Club.

Their website is:
http://www.gardeningclub.com

the book ISBN # is 1-58159-016-4
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Right now is the best time to prepare your soil.  The preparation of the soil is 80% of the success of your flowers.

Good soil mixture:
1 bag each in a 5 x 5 area:
topsoil
sand (regular cheap stuff without pebbles
gypsum (for aeration)
and
1/2 bag "Millorganite" (a great organic fertilizer-get at nurseries

Rototil or shovel (that's the HARD way) into the soil at least 8" down!

I put a mulch (grass cuttings and chopped leaves are good or you can use a cedar or dypress mulch on top around plants when you finish planting to keep in the moisture.


Ask any other questions.


Go get your hands dirty!!

Sijka