Some things that grow in Kentucky could grow here, but we have colder winters and a shorter growing season. Some things actually grow better in Maine. I'm a relative newcomer to Maine myself, and this year was just our third garden here. I grow primarily vegetables, with flowers being a rather small sideline for me, so I don't feel qualified to recommend any specific varieties.

We have had success with petunias, pansies, nasturtiums, moss rose, impatiens, celosia, and coleus. Lupines do well in Maine and grow naturalized by the roadsides, but we don't grow them because they are toxic and we have a small grandaughter who likes to explore all areas of our garden. I particularly like to grow zinnias. I usually don't set tender annuals out until after Memorial Day.

I am curious about your ledge location. Could you describe it in a bit more detail? Or perhaps even post a snapshot or two.

MM

Thank you for your info. Our house is built on a ledge under the ground. I'm not sure how this is going to affect the root system on my plants. I'm going to see how my perennials do next year and I might have to go with a raised bed. Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks

Where the soil is very thin, you need to concentrate on shallow-rooted annuals and some perennials. Anything that is deep-rooted will need to have a raised bed or grown in another area where the soil is deeper.

Someone told me the stone place on Rte. 1 in Biddeford--I don't know exactly where but it's near the Animal Hospital, Coastal Convenience Store, etc. will sell single stones.

By the way I have very little luck with zinnias. I had one summer that they grew gloriously,it was a pretty hot one, but every other year they sort of just linger, half grown and peaky. It can be kind of weird temperature-wise. My son always goes to a baseball camp over in Wells in the last week of June. It'll be in the mid or low 70's at my house, I'll drive over to Wells to pick him up, about 15 minutes away and it'll be in the 90's over there at the field! I'm not kidding. It's been like that for several years. I remember one afternoon he was so hot and all he wanted to do was go for a swim. I had the car windows down and enjoying the warm breeze, we got onto route 9 and it got cooler. After a few minutes he asked me to close the car windows, it was getting chilly in the back seat, and maybe he didn't want to go swimming after all.