Perennials comes back year after year, at least for 3 years, some longer. Annuals need replanting every year, although they have more of a blast of color.

Nice to get some Perennial early spring reminder that winter is over

SE Wisco is zone 4 and 5 Hardiness Zone , the lower numbers are colder, so don't buy any zone 1,2,3 stuff because it may die off.

Lots of perennials won't bloom the same year they are planted, some will.

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Early Spring

In March and April, when we are sick of winter and pining for the first glimpse of spring, we can count on these perennials to put on a show: tulips and daffodils, primroses, and anemonies.

20,000 seeds....annuals and perennials "wild flower mix" $10 from Menards.

http://www.menards.com/main/lawn-garden/seeds-bulbs/wildflower-bouquet-mix-shaker/p-1725214-c-10125.htm

Edible stuff

Horseradish, Armoracia rusticana

Posted on 03 January 2011

Every year the International Herb Association chooses one plant that is used as an herb to highlight. For 2011 this plant is horseradish, a plant long used as a condiment. To learn more about this tough herb, read this article...

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Garlic Chives, Allium tuberosum

You may have noticed the white blossoms of garlic chives as they begin to bloom in late summer or early fall. Although edible, this southeast Asian perennial is more frequently used as an ornamental in North America. Learn more about Allium tuberosum in this article...

You can readily find Easter lilies in bloom at this time of year. This hardy bulb is forced out of season to provide floral displays for this holiday. Whether you want these fragrant flowers to brighten your home at this time of year, or would just like to have them bloom in your garden at their normal time, this is a plant well worth getting to know. Read on to learn more about Lilium longiflorum.

Baptisia australisis a great, under-used herbaceous plant. This tough, but beautiful, prairie native has been chosen by the Perennial Plant Association as their Plant of the Year 2010. Purple-blue flowers and foliage that remains attractive throughout the season make this a nice a specimen plant or a good addition to the perennial border. Read more...

Looking for an unusual flower that comes in truly blue shades (as well as purple)? There is a tender perennial sage that can be grown as an annual to add this unusual color in the landscape or in containers. To learn more about Salvia guaranitica read this article...

Yellow Foxglove, Digitalis grandiflora

Most people are familiar with the purple or white-flowered biennial foxglove. Did you know there is a perennial species with yellow flowers? Lean more about this attractive plant in this article...

Sweet woodruff is an attractive groundcover for moist, shady spots, producing tiny white flowers in the spring. This European plant was used as an herbal remedy for a variety of ailments, and the dried leaves and flowers smell like freshly mown hay. If you want to learn more about this herbaceous perennial, continue reading...

Celandine poppy or wood poppy will soon be opening its bright yellow flowers in shade and woodland gardens throughout the area. Learn more about this eastern US native perennial in this article...

Native prairie grasses are well adapted to our region and can be a nice addition to the manicured garden as well as in natural settings. Little bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium, is one with nice blue summer foliage and reddish fall color. Read more about this pretty grass in this article...

Allium senescens ssp. glaucum

Asters, mums and pansies are the standard flowers for fall. But there are other perennials that are just getting going in the fall, too. The late-flowering Allium senescens var. glaucum offers purple-pink flowers at this time of year, and a fun display of swirled blue-green foliage the rest of the growing season. Read more about this ornamental onion in

Japanese Forest Grass, Hakonechloa macra

There are few grasses that perform well in the shade that also have ornamental value. One of the best is Japanese Forest Grass or Hakone Grass, Hakonechloa macra. Learn about this perennial grass in this article...

Pasque Flower, Pulsatilla vulgaris

Spring has sprung, and the earliest flowers are finally opening. Pasque flower is one of the first to bloom. Learn more about this pretty herbaceous perennial plant in this article...

The delicate white flowers and early bloom of these perennial bulbs (even pushing through the snow in cold areas) have given them the common name of snowdrops. Several of the 19 or so species of Galanthus are planted as ornamentals, with most hardy to zone 5, but some to zone 2. Learn more about this hardy group in the amaryllis family in this article...

Every year the International Herb Association chooses one plant that is used as an herb to highlight. For 2007 this plant is lemon balm, an attractive plant with a fragrant, lemon-lik odor. Used for tea and medicinal purposes, it is very easy to grow. To learn more about this herb, read this article...

Here's a low-maintenance plant with spires of foamy white flowers and mounds of dark leaves that turn golden in the fall. This perennial combines well with many other plants in the shade garden. To learn more about goatsbeard, read this article....

There are numerous cultivars of Dianthus that make great additions to the garden. Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Firewitch' has been chosen by the Perennial Plant Association as their Plant of the Year 2006. With shocking magenta flowers and blue foliage, it's not one to disappear into the landscape! To learn more about this tough, pretty low-gorwing plant, read

With airy purple-blue flowers and gray-green leaves, Russian sage is a nice addition to the late summer garden. This semi-woody plant can be used as a substitute for lavendar where it is too cold to grow that plant reliably. It combines well with ornamental grasses and white-flowered perennials. To learn more about Russian sage read this

Rhubarb is the first "fruit" of the season - used as a fruit, but grows like a vegetable. With huge leaves on long red to green petioles it can also make a dramatic statement in the garden. This oldfashioined perennial is very easy to grow, coming back bigger year after year with little care. To learn more about rhubarb, read this article...

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And here is a garden web topic thread on Wisconsin perennials
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/wisconsin/msg052009361356.html

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A review of the book "Well tended Perennial garden"

hmmmm......I would prefer the "Barely maintained" perennial garden, LOL

On Jan 6, 2008, rebecca101 wrote:Truly excellent book. Has the most specific and comprehensive information I've seen on how to care for perennials. I also really like the extensive plant lists at the back. Includes things like plants which do not need staking, plants which do need staking, plants which do not need division, plants which need division every 1-3 years, plants which need to be cut back after flowering, etc. Gives you a very detailed picture of how much and what kind of work you'll need to do to take care of each plant, so you can be realistic and make good choices that fit your needs.

Here is a guide to Perennial (and annual) herbs for Wisconsin

http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/tips/herb_planting_guide.pdf

And here is their free plant guide as a PDF download from my site
https://www.box.com/s/bv2k2iqn3xekieccihr8

And here is a guide to "True Wisconsin Native" Perennials -- why not go native!?

http://www.steingg.com/wisconsinnatives.asp