Colorful COLUMBINES (AQUILEGIA) bloom from late spring into summer. They are in full bloom right now. They come in a wide range of colors. I have shades of pink, and yellow and white, and a beautiful clear blue and white. Most of mine are singles, but I do have a couple of double-flowering ones. They are about 1 1/2 to 3 feet high. I love their foliage, which dies out after they bloom, but starts right up again, and is pretty through the fall. They are very hardy, and bloom in shade as well as sun; in shade the flowers last longer, but in sun you'll get more blooms. They aren't long-lived, (average is 2-4 years) so you need to replace them every few years. I let them reseed; just crush the dried seed pods and sprinkle over the site you want. They need light to germinate, so just pat the seeds down to ensure good seed-to-soil contact. Then when the seedlings come up, you can thin them or replant them where you want them. (Just know that they aren't always the same as the original plant). Pinching off spent blooms prolongs bloom time. They have a single deep tap root, which makes transplanting mature plants fairly unsuccessful. So, it's best to divide or move in early spring. Hummingbirds love their long spurs, and the only problems I've had with pests are aphids late in the year, which doesn't hurt the bloom. They are especially nice in arrangements, lasting a long time. They are a super perennial to have.
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