About the Sedums: These perennial plants enjoy gritty, fast-draining soil, and must have full hot sun. They are really desert plants, so give them sharp drainage. (Sedums are often called Succulents, due to their thickened moisture-retentive leaves, and yes, the short ones include the famous Hen and Chicks from grandmothers garden.)

Once sedums are established, you've assured yourself of loads of perennial interest for the later months when most garden flowers are gone.