Only because of the foliage

We grow several plants because of their interesting foliage, and almost despite their flowers. Laughing

Nice leaves add interest to the garden through the whole season, not just while the plant's in bloom. We've got several different Hosta types and ferns, but I'm not showing those right now. They're not properly up yet anyway. We've got several grasses too, and this one is a real sweetie:

The Aquilegia, columbine, has lovely, ferny foliage, but this multicoloured one is a nice contrast in-between the normal, green ones:

This is a variegated Astrantia. It lives in part shade next to cousins with normal foliage:

The small Astilbe crispa has white blooms, but it's the leaves that made me bring it home. They're really stiff and sort of crumbled! Once summer's here, the leaves will be a dark, shiny green, but the texture will still be there.

This Iris has boring, blue, small blooms, but I love the striped leaves. You can see our only piece of garden decor peeping through in there:

We've purchased a few Heuchera (six or seven), and there will be more! They're lovely contrasts to plants with strong flower colours and green foliage. Here are three of them:

The big Rodgersia leaves are so striking, but require lots of room and light (at least here in Norway) to look their best. These were a gift from my mother-in-law:

We try to mix interesting foliage in amongst other plants, just for contrast, added interest, weirdness or because we like it that way. I think it's a good way to bring variety to the border.

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The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
-Bertrand Russell

Wow, Droopy! -- you stuff is looking verrrry good. It's so good in fact that I can't really say what is most apealing to me--it's ALL good.
I like your display of foilage plants for contrast and added interest. It's a technique that I have seen alot of, both here and on the gardening shows. I have some grasses, but I do not do what you do. I guess I'm too basic,chuckle. I really do like your chouches, but I would like to see them from a distance also, you know--to get an idea of how they present in their own milieu.
The variegated astrantia and aquilegia are sompin else! I would like to see pics of their flowers....please. Embarassed

Gosh... you sure do have some nice (and unusual) plants. Hats off to you and your man.

Addendum: Is your frog (or toad) a male or female? There is also such a beast in my garden. Perhaps they could become pen-pals...hahahahaha

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Sjoerd http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/Page11.html