Here's another one to try. This one is called Autumn Crocus.In this case you can tell a lot by it's name. You generally purchase it as a bulb, which are usually quite large. It does return year after year without needing to re-plant it.

In spring it shoots up a lot of foliage, this is preparing plant for it's autumn blooms, be sure to just leave this alone. Come about mid June or so, this foliage starts looking like it's dying, again just leave it be. In late August/early September, when most of flowers are past their prime and garden is starting to look sparse, out comes AutumnCrocus, with their beautiful lilac colored blooms. They bloom for quite a long time when few things are blooming. A fun plant, give it a try!

This one is an annual (only lives 1 growing season) plant called Love Lies Bleeding. It's as strange as it's name.It is very easy to grow. You just simply direct seed itin soil (full sun preferably) where it is to grow inthe spring. It's height seems to vary greatly. I've seenit be as small as about 2 feet high, and reach up to 6 or7 feet high. It's "flowers" are long, burgandy coloredropes that hang. It is simply stunning. Always getsattention! It will usually re-seed itself so you'll getnew plants following year without doing anything.It's best to try to find this seed in an unusual typeseed catalog. It is in amaranth family.

Here's last one. Ever tried hellebore family?There are many varieties. They are perennial whichmeans they come back year after year. These are best planted in shady areas, but where they will get sun in winter, like under leafed trees or something of that nature.

What is so unusual about hellebores is that they bloomsomewhere between Dec. and March. There are very fewplants that do that! One variety is called a ChristmasRose. It's quite striking to see flowers in midstsometimes of snow.

These plants usually must be puchased at a nursery.Check out your local nursery for this wonderful familyof plants.

Most water gardens are an addition or extension of natural landscape. To encourage and invite your guests to water garden for picnics, for chats, and for just sitting in pleasure: Plan water garden so it's visible from walkway to your home. The water garden that your visitors and guests see while entering your home adds value to your home and to your conversation!

In planning your water garden, use a sheet of paper to write down what you want to gain from your water garden. Start your list by using personal reasons, value reasoning, enhancing, or changing overall look of your landscape. Alternately, you may simply want a place for solitude. These are desires you'll write on your list. From this list, you can better plan 'where' your water garden will suit you and your ideas.

Gordon Goh is author of free, informative website Simply Flower Garden offering quality useful tips for flower garden lovers.