Question
I have 3 Joe pye weed plants that I planted last year.  They only got about 2 feet
high last year.  They came back this year but are only about 8 inches high so far.  
They are in full sun  area where my cone flowers and grasses thrive.  Any idea
on what the problem maybe. (The plants look heathy but are very small .)

Answer
Hi Kathy,
Many of us had a prolonged, cool winter with barely a decent spring and lots of water.  Some perennials will emerge slower than others when the weather has been harsh.  They may be only 8 inches now but in a few weeks, when the warmth picks up, all the perennials will be growing like gangbusters.  I noticed it took my mimosa longer than normal to leaf out this year and my peonies also bloomed 4 or 5 days later than they have been so, I think as the weather gets warmer the Joe Pye weeds won't be so sluggish and start bolting upwards like a rocket.  If they're healthy they are probably still waking up from winter.  Keep watering and feeding them.  I hope this helps.
Tom