garden advice?

[cellio]

Most of my back yard was obviously well-planned by someone, and it's lovely for most of the year. Bulbs bloom (in stages) in the spring, there are pretty bushes in the summer/fall (some of which flower), and in general there's usually something interesting going on at any time from about March to about October. (I'm horticulturally challenged, so I can't actually name any of these things other than the bulbs.)

There's also one strip of grass that was never worked on. I'd like to plant something there, but I have basically no clues. Any advice?

The place in question runs most of the length of the garage (I guess that's about 15-20 feet?) and is about 4 feet deep. It's next to the garage, so it's partial shade rather than full sun. Obviously, whatever I put there shouldn't have root systems so big that they would interfere with the garage.

I'd like something that blooms in the summer, and ideally blooms for a while. (This should be enough room to plant a few different things, which might help that goal.) This space is bounded by a sidewalk that I use a lot, so whatever I put there shouldn't be too aggressive about spilling out into the sidewalk. No thorns, please. I dislike pale pink but like pretty much all other flower colors.

I wonder if lilac is suitable. I don't know how long it blooms or what its light requirements are.

Suggestions welcome!

Comments

[beki.livejournal.com]

How about Dahlias? They come in several differnet flowering types, and mine bloom most of the summer. I have them in full and in partial sun, so they should work. They also come in various sizes, so you dont have to worry about htem over growing if you get a smaller variety. Try http://www.dahlias.com/ I use them often, and I havent had a problem with anything that I have ordered.

[cellio]

Wow, those are pretty! Yeah, something like that would be splendid.

One thing I had trouble determining, though: are dahlias perenials?

[beki.livejournal.com]

They are perrenials, They are usually tubers, so you dont need to worry about re seeding every year. They will have to be divided every 3-4 years. I just tap them with the shovel and they break in half, so I dont worry about what is the eye. I also am bad and dont dig them up at the end of the season. I dont know where your at, but if you have really harsh winters (like in say wyoming) then you might want to dig them up and keep them in the root cellar packed in wood chips. Hamster bedding cedar chips work well for this. I am not the greatest gardener and I havent been able to do much since my arm was broken in 2000, but I am trying to get out there and do stuff.. I gots to trim my camellia and my weeping cherry before my husband cuts it down. :)