My northern gardening experience is so long ago that it's childhood memories, mostly. We loved nasturtiums, a silly little flower, but they kept blooming as long as you picked them, they were great colors, and they loved the northern climate. I have never been able to grow them down here.

Flowers in the carnation family. Pinks. I haven't seen pinks in years, but they were a summer favorite at home. Geraniums did okay, and I'm sure some of the new ones would take the weather better than down here, even though they're supposed to work down here.

Ground cover like St. Johns Wart and Vinca did well. We had lots of lovely orchids (but those aren't for flower beds commingled with tulips. They're for great little shaded nooks that aren't disturbed.)

I'll root around in my brain (that mostly comes up with ferns and moss) and see if I remember any more.

SRS