A Midsummer Garden's Blooms

· Purple coneflower ( Echinacea purpurea). The tallest hybrid often planted is Magnus purple coneflower. It is impressive and regal in bloom, but it can blow over in a storm. More compact hybrids are available. This plant is in full bloom now but will fade by late July.

· Black-eyed Susan. This brilliant yellow flower is just beginning to make its show. It will colonize areas as quickly as it can, and it's often the first flower to take hold in seeded wildflower gardens. It's the state flower of Maryland and is one of our most noticeable native plants when in flower.

· Spiked speedwell ( Veronica spicata) has a long blooming period, from early summer to fall. Its blue-spiked flowers can bloom for two months or more, and they make excellent cut flowers. Spiked speedwell is only happy as far south as this region. It should have full eastern sun and protection from the heat of the day.

· Daylily. This plant is quite happy in this climate and is flowering now. Most older varieties don't re-bloom and will be flowering for only a couple of weeks longer. Once all flowers have faded on a scape (flowering stem), prune it at the base for aesthetics. When all flowers have faded on daylilies, it's is a good time to divide them. Repeat-blooming varieties, such as Stella d'oro or black-eyed Stella, will bud up and flower again. Pruning scapes after all flowers have faded will encourage the next generation of flowers. Repeat-blooming daylilies can flower into fall.

· True lilies. There are thousands of lily hybrids. Most will grow as perennials for several years then disappear subtly, a few at a time, until you don't realize they're gone. When it's time to plant more, do it in spring. Get about five to 10 of each type you want. Mass the same colors together, and plant among other perennials. Some are fragrant. One of my favorites for fragrance is the regal lily ( Lilium regale).

· Liatris. This plant is a good way to add native foliage to a garden. Its flowers open in an interesting fashion from the top of the inflorescence to the base the flowering stem. Each stem has 15 to 45 pinkish-purple flowers that open on the ends. After the flower color fades, cut the scapes before they go to seed. The foliage continues to soften walls or steps, until first frost.

· Yarrow ( Achillea). It has been a fairly good season for this ferny foliaged, long-lived perennial. Some opened in May and will continue to flower for eight to 12 weeks. About a dozen of these members of the aster family are considered ornamental. Besides the common gold varieties, Yarrow is also bred in hues of pink to red. It offers a long season of interest. Its finely cut leaf is a nice addition, although it tends to flop after flowering. Cut back unsightly parts of plant for the remainder of the growing season.

Joel M. Lerner is president of Environmental Design in Capitol View Park, Md. E-mail or contact him through his Web site,http://www.gardenlerner.com.