What are your ten top choices for perennial plantings?

If I was reduced to ten plants around which to plan the gardening season, which would I choose?
There are lots of them I haven't even tried. I always wanted a dictamnus, gas plant, but never managed to purchase it.

As for those I would choose now for this garden on the plain, I have greatly appreciated those old stalwarts, (1) roses and (2) peonies. They make the May/June garden. (3) Lilies are something I would plant more of, they fill June/July with bright color and fragrance. (4) Rudbeckias, like Guldsturm tend to be overdone, but their easy growth and golden daisies provide color in even the hottest summer heat ( for the north, anyway), so I would always like some of them in the garden. (5) Hostas, everyone needs some hostas, and they have beautiful flowers on graceful stems.

Smaller flowers are sometimes overlooked, but (6) campanula carpatica is a useful, sturdy, blue flowering cushion. I have come to really appreciate (7) scabiosas. Another blue, graceful and free-flowering.

(8) Daylilies are in a class by themselves for usefulness. Many are fragrant, and free-flowering, they come in lots of colors, but the yellows are always wonderful.
(9) Siberian Iris replaces all the German types in my opinion. Not as showy, but far more graceful and lots less work.
(10) Chrysanthemums have to end the season. Nothing else gives as much hardy color in the fall garden. But I would be tempted to say Flowering Kale.... it simply is not as versatile or colorful as the mums.... but it lasts through frosts and freeze. but, no, Chrysanthemums stand. They are easy to grow and propagate. They have all sorts of interesting forms.

So. There is my list. Of course, it is only imaginary, since I don't think I could have only those in a garden... I would fill in with whatever little plants I could tuck into corners and niches. Things like campanula cochlearfolia, adenophora, alchemilla, violas, ........ I better grow to be a really nice old lady that grandkids will gladly work in the garden for.....

or perhaps I will take the advice on taking up growing orchids? One of my grandmothers who became invalid, after having grown prize iris and peonies in her younger days, took up African violets. She grew the most beautiful violets.

Flowers are a lifetime of joy, I think.