While blooms may be the showiest part of spring, don't overlook all the plants with interesting foliage. Since foliage stays all season while the flowers are fleeting, the appearance of the foliage is very important. Look at the shape and size of the leaves as well as their texture and structure. The overall shape and size of the plant can also play an important role in the garden. When selecting perennials for their bloom, try to imagine what else will be blooming or what other foliage plants will be nearby to complement the flowers.
Perennials are wonderful, but their strength is their ability to come back year after year.
In exchange for this virtue, we must give up the constant blooms we can expect from annuals. The duration of bloom on a perennial varies greatly. Some are very fleeting, lasting only a few days. Most bloom for 2-3 weeks and a few will bloom for a month or so. There is a group of early plants that are classified as spring ephemerals.