August is no time to assess the beauty of your garden, or is it? Indeed, if any look good after this hot, dry summer, they are winners in my book.

Especially when the south-eastern end of Loudoun County has watched storm after storm part and move south or north. Gardens are dusty and tired. The question I asked myself specifically "What perennials flowered in May and still look good this August?" Some of my favorite perennials look horrible. A hail storm three weeks ago did not help. Peonies planted in less than full sun have powdery mildew. Hosta and bearded iris, as a whole look terrible, a few exceptions can be noted based on variety and placement (and dodging hail pellets).

The good news is that August can still reveal some winners. My assessment was made after looking at several gardens. My conclusions are based solely on visual observations, ultimately I hoped for minimal care, maybe a little dead heading, but no regenerative cutting back. Again a tall order.

The first winner is baptisia. Glorious when in flower and foliage that persists like a champ. A native plant that prefers sun, commonly known as false indigo, the flowers can be blue, purple or yellow. I did remove seed pods, otherwise no maintenance was required. It beat out others for one single reason, the beauty of its spring flowers. The breeding of baptisia is hot with new hybrids revealed every spring. The future is bright for this native perennial.

Second is amsonia or blue star. Another native with incredible stamina. The flowers are pale blue and Amsonia 'Blue Ice' has the bluest flowers of any species or hybrid. This perennial can easily stand as a first place winner based on its fall foliage (something baptisia lacks). Easily spotted in fall when the foliage turns yellow, it rivals any native tree for color in fall. There is no dead heading required and drought tolerance is a sure thing. Amsonia hubrichtii has been voted the Perennial Plant Association's perennial of the year for 2011.

Thirdly is spirea or meadow-sweet, a shrub that can vary in height and bloom time. Very showy and drought tolerant, I prefer those with showy foliage like S. 'Firelight' or S. 'Lime Mound'. With these the flowers are just another perk. Most of the varieties we see in gardens are non-native but there are several native species and I personally think this is an area that remains untapped. There is plenty of room for ornamental hybridization using native spirea.

There are a couple of plants that deserve honorable mentions. Thalictrum (native and non) look very good. Admittedly this is the first time I have ever considered them, but looks mean everything this late in the summer. The flowers arrive on thin stems and T. rochbrunianum flowers in June and July with purple sprays of small flowers. Most references state that it should be planted in partial sun with moisture. I find it growing in full sun, with little moisture and still looking good. I have Thalictrum dioicum in my garden, a native with small green flowers of questionable beauty in April, but the foliage is full and showy with no sign of drought stress.

Epimedium is a perennial that I often promote. The flowers arrive in April but the foliage looks great. The common name for epimedium is barrenwort which translates to a plant of barren places. A non-native that grows in part sun or shade, it beats out many other perennials for good looks over an extended period, despite the weather.

And you may want to reassess your garden to see what is worthy. Was that garden of May really worth it? Yes, if you choose the right plants.