Would love to see some photos!

Thanks.

Millie

There are various approaches to keeping your alpine beds a focal point after June. One is to use plants that actually bloom and the other is to include plants that have textural attraction.

Native (to Canada) plants I use for bloom in July are species of wild flowers from the alpine slopes. Such as: the allium, Allium cernuum.... ...one of the native (not cultivar!) stonecrops... a species of Tofeidia... the Golden Mountain saxifrage... the dwarf figwort Elephanthead. Also there are species that reliably repeat flower in July if deadheaded after blooming in May or early June such as Pygmy Lewisia , Erigeron compositus, and the very handsome and dependable Penstemon ellipticus.

Equally of value are plants with attractive shape or interesting seedheads. It's hard to beat the shape and seedpods of Physaria...or the seed tufts of Yellow Dryads...or green mounds of Moss Campion....and the attractive berries of many of the heaths.

There are also many non-Canadian native plants that are also useful, but the above native ones can fill most alpine beds and provide character.

Here's how one section of my sons rock garden in CT looks. Have sowed annual seeds but they were not in bloom yet. Some plants just don't make it there and another problem is the deer. Guess it will be trial and error until we find out what works.

After reading some of the previous posts I see anything goes in a rock garden. Just have to do more research to find out what blooms in July for their July 4th celebration party. Tried red and while begonias and they looked great but do want more perennials.

Thanks.

Rick