Pond plants

[cyprinella]

If anyone US-based is looking for pond plants, my local (DC Metro area) Lowes had a really nice selection of marginal plants I had only seen at specialty shops as well as your typical lilies. Be warned that some of the things they were selling can be very invasive (water lettuce, for example) so you may want to be careful if your pond has any sort of run-off to natural waterways. I mostly container garden, so I picked up a couple of species like horsetail rush that can spread like crazy if not contained. If you're in need of a fantastic water garden plant book, I really recommend Encyclopedia of Water Garden Plants by Greg Speichert and Sue Speichert. It has been incredibly helpful in describing proper care and helping me pick out plants for my area.

The intro post thingy

[rensreality101]

A gardening journal - yea!

I am in south Alabama (zone 8b for US folks) on about two acres.  It is warm enough here to four season garden so my gardening chores never seem to stop.

I missed my snow and sweet pea window but I have lettuces and beans, as well as tomato seedlings and herbs.  We'll have blackberries soon and are still eating leftover cherry tomatoes from a plant I brought inside the kitchen last winter.

I also have flowering plants, shrubs, and fruit and nut trees.  I will try and get some pictures of my white rambler because the roses on it this year are really beautiful.

Now I have a question.  I have a narrow strip that borders part of my front sidewalk on either side.  (about 2 ft on each)  In the spring and fall this is full of flowering bulbs but I don't know what to plant for color in the summer.  It is full sun, next to concrete and brick and the plants need to stay low, not over a foot or two.  I don't want annuals - it is hard to work them with all the bulbs. 
 

Any suggestions?  Thanks!