Parkway gardening tips from neighborhood activist Jeannie Felknor:
• For shady areas, use fail-safe plants such as hosta, Solomon seal, lungwort, Bishop's weed and ivy.
• For sunny spots, reliable plants include daylilies, coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, sunflowers, hollyhocks, peonies, cleomes, alyssum.
• Call JULIE (800-892-0123) to make sure you don't hit any utility lines if you're going to dig with a shovel or use a rototiller.
• Create a paved area for people alighting from their cars so they don't trample your plants. Paths are nice too so people can walk through the planted areas.
• Short fences help keep animals out.
• Avoid thorny plants that can prick people
• Use plants that don't need a lot of water and maintenance will be easier.
• Perennials return every year and typically bloom once a season. Annuals die back in winter, but provide bright color that lasts from spring to fall.