New England Aster “September Ruby” (Aster novae-angliae): At home in moist soils. Grows to 5′ in height. Typically the species has a range of purple colored flowers. Can be pinched back in the summer to form shorter stockier plants.

Hot Lips Turtlehead (Chelone lyonii): Turtlehead pink flowers are shaped like their name. See if your children will notice the similarities between the flower and the turtle. These plants grow to 2′ – 3′. They grow best in partial shade in moist soil and are cheerful surprise at the end of the summer. Bloomtime: late summer into fall.

Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor): Our native Iris that is at home near pond and stream edges. Blue flowers in mid-summer. Grows 2-3 feet tall.

Sweet Flag (Acorus variegates): Hardy evergreen variegated stiff blades that grow in a neat circular clump. An attractive plant all year round for the edge of a pond, or very wet area where grass is hard to grow. Grows 6″ in partial shade.

 Little Midge – Dwarf Palm Sedge (Carex Muskingumensis): Thin, bright green, grassy leaves that branch at the tips resemble miniature palms…Little Midge is a cutie at only 8-12” high. It will spread slowly in moist to wet soils, and makes an attractive ground cover in part shade to shade. Small birds enjoy the seeds on this plant at the end of the season. Deer resistant.

Blue, Red and White Cardinal Flower(Lobelia): Cardinal flowers do best in partial shade or full shade with moist soil. Their spikes of bright color are a standout in shade gardens, which sport mostly green. This plant is good at self-seeding in Chatham, but never becomes invasive. Sometimes the red and blue plants have a purple baby! Each small flower on the cluster has a shape like a bird, or cardinal. If you plant red ones, you will be guaranteed hummingbirds. Deer resistant, Grows 24-36″ tall. Bloomtime: mid to late summer

Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis): With beautiful complex bell flowers, columbine thrives in sun, partial shade and average soil. Grows to a height of 12-18″. Bloomtime: early summer