Flower Bed=Money Pit

After a weekend with three sick babies....(at least they all got sick at the same time, right?)  I became indifferent to poop vs. fertilizer.  

So I got to work outside.

After five years here I am weary of spending $75-$100 every spring on plants that only last the summer.  I have few choices since it's a shady bed too.  Begonias get old after awhile.   

Greg and I decided to do something more "perennial" and less "annual" with the flower bed.

Can I just say now that:

a) I hate the word perennial and b) I think something that stays and grows every.single.year. should be the one named annual?

 We went to check out the new Linden Nursery over in Draper.  I couldn't believe how great their prices were! 

I bought a Wintercreeper...

 

Shasta Daisies (such happy little flowers!)

Some Cherry Red Double Impatiens, Chocolate Chip Bugleweed and some Snow-in-Summer.

 I'm stealing some other unnamed starts from peoples yards...not sure when.  Maybe when they are on vacation?  

Kidding Kari, I will totally call you and bug you first.

 After all our hard work Greg and I decided nothing would cool us off better than an Otter Pop on the porch and some cloud watching.  

I thought this one looked like an old mans face...see his open mouth at the bottom?

 Not done completely but getting there! 

It looks better than before anyhow, right?