Gardening - Year Long Bushes and Plants

Hey, Linda---
If you want some sort of bush that will stay green all winter, you'll have to get an evergreen of some sort---there are lots of options if you look at sites like Wayside Gardens, White Flower Farm, etc.
As far as flowers that come back year after year, you need to go with perennials (spider flower and petunia are annuals)that are hardy for your zone (I'm in NY and my zone is 6). I've planted my garden so that once one perennial has finished flowering, another one takes over, thus giving me color through spring, summer, and fall (for instance, columbines start in spring, then peonies and irises in mid/late spring, then delphiniums and foxgloves continue the show, then the phlox takes over and the rudbeckias do their thing). There's a great book by the late (and beloved) Cassandra Danz, aka "Mrs. Greenthumbs" that explains it all quite simply: http://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Greenthumbs-Turned-Boring-Glori...
I also have some clematis vines that rebloom, and some David Austin reblooming roses that pretty much put out flowers all spring/summer.
Hope this helps!
xoxLeslie (itching to get out in the garden)

Two plants that work well for me are Rhododendron and Azaleas. I did not plant them they were in the garden when I arrived. The garden gets partial sun and there are no deer in the area. Both seem to keep their leaves in the winter. Good luck.

Hi Linda-
My name is Janet and I'm a retired lady. Some plants you might consider:
Hosta - grows in spring thru fall. Does get lovely flowers towards the end. Some flower in summer and others (mine) in fall. Comes back every year. You can separate them. I did one large plant to get 4. How about that. They have been growing in my garden for over 50 yrs. My grandmother started them. My daughters all have cuttings for their yards. Nice rememberence from great-grandma.

Holly bush - Nice and green all yr long. Sharp leaves tho. No flowers but nice red berries.

Arbor Vitae- No flowers but green all yr long. Do grow very large.

Thought this might help some. Hope your work at home project pans out for you.

Hi, Linda-

Try calling or e-mailing the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. They usually have a very knowledgeable person answering phone inquiries who would be able to advise you. You could describe your particular conditions and he/she would be able to give you a list of likely candidates. Good luck! (I invested lots of money in my now-dead mountain laurels, so I understand your predicament.)

Kathie