Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor University of Vermont Bedding plants are one option for landscape color all summer long.
Summer flowering bulbs are another.
Not only do the latter provide beauty to the home landscape, but they are easy to grow and can be dug and saved for replanting year after year, making them an economical choice for any garden. A number of different types of summer bulbs provide a range of colors with interesting blooms and foliage. Among my favorites are tuberous begonias, gladiolus, and canna. Tuberous begonias come in red, pink, orange, salmon, yellow, and white and can grow to a diameter of 12 to 14 inches. Although they can't be planted in the garden until mid-May, you can get a jump on the season by planting tubers in shallow flats or pots in March or April.