ASTILBE (spirea)
Pink astilbe blooms with the dark purple salvia, golden yellow coreopsis, lemon yellow achillea, burgundy-stemmed penstemon (with the whie blossoms in left back), and the white foxglove just about to re-bloom in foreground.
These feathery plants usually prefer a slightly shady spot, but with adequate moisture they will do well in full sun, as you can see here. (Later, of course, they turned to toast in the August drought, but with the autumn rains they put forth new growth at the base.)
This is a pretty pale pink shade, but they also come in other shades of pink, lavender, white, and red. They last a long time in bouquets, and they dry well too. The foliage is fern-like and pretty with or without the plumes of color.
I like this plant so much that I never give it away when I divide it--I just plant the pieces in new spots in the garden to increase my stock. Maybe some day I'll be generous with it, but not yet!