Ok, I admit it, I have a spot that is to be a flower bed that has cost me more time and effort then I would ever want to admit to, when we moved here, the very first bed we made was on the east side of the house, I planted two lovely bushes, that have done very well and then planned on filling the one spot that is about 10 feet by 5 feet with flowers being mainly with those that would come back year after with a bit of spring color in the form of annuals. Sounds like such a simple plan yes?
Huh, I have redone that bed for five years now and it still does not work, I have filled it with bulbs, that the chickens dug out, I have put in grasses that refused to grow? I have done tomato’s that loved it (Maybe I should just give up and make it a garden spot) I have done it into wild flowers, and still between the heat, and the chickens, it never works well or for long.. so this year, I REFUSE to spend any money on replanting it, anything that is going in there has to be free from the farm garden and or the pasture etc.
So here is my new plan, at the back, I am going to put in a row of Red Bee Balm, as they are the tallest, the second row will be Ditch Lily’s or Tiger Lily’s, the third row is going to be wild violets, as they grow freely as a ground cover under my big tree’s and the last front row is being planted into strawberries. All really tough plants that “should” come back year after year and between them fill in every single nock and granny in that bed.
Ok dear readers, what do you think of this plan? Would you add to the list and if so what? Do you have one spot that because of shade, heat or pets/chickens that is a trouble spot in your garden?
Just another Day on the Farm 
Try sedum. There are some really beautiful varieties out there, from ground covers to nearly a foot tall with flowers. Some are fast growing, others slow, but they’re very, very hardy plants. The ground cover varieties can grow anywhere and will take over very quickly, especially the creeping yellow variety.
Something else to consider is mint. Again, very quick growing, in shade or full sun.
Thanks, I will give it a try, the beebalm is a member of the mint family, so I am hopeful that it will do well and grow/spread quickly.
My mother had a nice way to keep costs for the flower garden down: exchange plants with family and friends. When she went visiting or got visitors on a nice summer evenening, they had the ‘ritual’ of touring the garden (the husbands strolled around the yard and barns to talk about the animals). When there were plants which the visitor liked, they were promised to save a piece for them in the autumn, or seeds, when they were ripe.
I would add nasturtiums and calendula if you have some around… maybe add some herbs like thyme and purple sage for interest and late season flowers