ground covers

I suspect Campanula poscharskyana, Serbian Bellflower, would do right well. You might should enrich the soil a bit if it's been "bare dirt" for a long time, loosen the whole area well, & the serbian bellflower will be able to spread into a dense groundcover with lots of blue flowers late spring until deep into autumn. It tries to be an evergreen in Zone 8, but I think you're colder, it will die back at the height of winter, but begin to regrow well before spring. You could mix with it Gold-leafed Adriatic Bellflower (Campanula garganica 'Dickson's Gold') & that would probably hold its own with the Serbian bellflower while varying the color & texture of the groundcover. It too attempts to be evergreen but might die back temporarily in your zone. Both are very low-maintenance with not too much watering required, & although they flower most extremely in full sun, they also look nice in bright shade; I have a very wide-spreading flowery patch under a pinoak, the rest get only morning sun, & that's been enough for them.

-paghat the ratgirl

Mine died last year, inexplicably, right next door to five or six other diverse Campanulas. Maybe this one is a little less hardy?

Sounds lovely, and just what I'd like to have in front of the house. I'll try to hunt some down :).

Gwen