If you take a real good look, you'll see a little purple....that's Brunnera macrophylla 'Variegata'. Common name: "Heartleaf Brunnera". The leaves are huge and heart-shaped and its green leaves are edged in white making the plant look beautiful in a shaded garden. There will be lots of small blue flowers and the leaves stay pretty all summer.
The Aster dumosus 'Woods Purple' pictured below is attempting another comeback. Planted it in the spring of 2006. It grew beautifully until August when a rabbit ate it down to the ground. I have an early morning photo of the rabbit dining away. Same thing happened in 2007. Spring of 2008 I dug the plant out and put it in a nice big, tall pot, thinking I'd fooled the critter. No such luck, the rabbit again devoured the Aster in August. Last fall I transplanted what was left into a new flower bed and I see it's going to try again this year. The information I have on this plant says rabbit/deer resistant. I especially wanted this variety because it's a compact plant (not tall and leggy like some Asters) and attracts butterflies!
I'm happy to report that this is the last pile of dirty snow left in our yard. Soon there will be beautifull white Astilbe x arendsii 'Snowdrift' growing inches from this snow.
Doesn't sound like it's all that rabbit resistant. Love to see the picture of the rabbit munching away.
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