'Husker Red' penstemmon, for starters!!

-Perennial Black eyed Susan - Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm' - cut off the seed heads - they self seed too much.
-Liatris spicata or 'Kobold'
-Purple cone flower - Echinacea pupura - leave the seed heads for goldfinches
-Russian sage - Perovskia atriplicifolia
-Miscanthus 'Morning Light'
-Sedum 'Autumn Joy'
-Yucca filamentosa
-Viburnum dentatum 'Blue Muffin' for the birds.

Have fun!

- Echinacea purpurea is the correct spelling.
- Leave the Penstemon 'Husker's Red' seed heads - they are very pretty. You may get seedlings that are as dark as the mother plant too. :-)

Hi Candy-

I'm also new to the midwest, but not to drought-tolerant gardening. You might check out a couple websites:

http://www.highcountrygardens.com/

http://www.prairienursery.com/

The first specializes in plants for dry climates, the second in prairie natives. (But beware, some prairie natives do need quite a bit of water. Prairie Nursery gives good information about this, though.)

As far as annuals, you might try sunflowers, zinnias, hollyhocks (which won't bloom til the 2nd year), and cosmos, all of which will take dry, windy conditions better than some annuals.

Have fun!