My favorite right now has to be the Dwarf Nandina. I love those bunches of red berries:

From Fall 2009

Still have a few reblooming iris.

and then the Endless Summer,

This thing that has totally not impressed me so far, began to set blooms late summer. Maybe she just needed to grow up and get some age on her.

The last of the rudbeckias

I have liked all stages of Limelight Hydrangea.

A few nicotiana among the wispy eragrostis grass that has to go.

This snap is from seeds my sis gave me. I keep trying to get a good picture of the color, but just can't. It is a very dark red

and the lamiums. I love this groundcover. It has had blooms since early spring. I think I have 3 or 4 varieties and want more.

I have ajuga too and like it very much. I need to move it around to fill in lots of places in beds.

The lamium seems to always have some blooms which is nice. I have also put it in pots and hanging baskets and it either self seeded or dropped some pieces down because I now have it where I have never had it before. I think I have a silver leafed one with a white bloom too.

I usually stay away from anything that requires lots of special care... I hope the Limelight doesn't become that.

Don't buy any lamium. If you remind me next spring I will send you several pieces. I just pull up some stems with roots and stick them in the ground.

I'm jealous that you have hydrangea blooms this late. I do think that hydrangeas seem to get better with age - at least mine have been that way. Age makes them hardier.

I like lamium too. It looks good under hostas. I had a huge patch of 'White Nancy' that seemed to be doing really well and it just disappeared all at once. I've been afraid to try it again.