SedumAn easy perennial that adds charming interest throughout the growing season - from pale silver-green foliage in spring until the pink, red or yellow blooms of summer that turn to russet before the snow falls. There are several varieties, including the 2-foot 'Autumn Joy,' one of the most popular, and 'Dragon's Blood,' only about 4 inches tall. Annuals for sunAgeratumGreat little edging plants in blues, purples, pinks or white can form a nice wave of color all summer; can take part shade.Alyssum What garden is complete without sweet alyssum, a fragrant, small border plant that works well in the garden or in a container? Available in white, pink, purple or a mixture, it can self-seed the following spring.Asters Available in many flower styles, from daisy-like to mum-like, and colors, in the white-pink-purple range; great for cutting, but won't rebloom after being cut.Cleome (spider plant)A 4- to 6-foot plant with pink, purple or white heads that dance gently in the wind; works well with cosmos at the back of the garden and can be used for bouquets. It will self-seed and produce blooms the next year throughout the garden.CosmosTall, lacy back-of-the garden plants, available in pinks, purples and whites; these tend to self-seed if you leave the spent heads on, or scatter seeds from heads you pick off.GeraniumsThis plant -- a perennial in warmer climates -- comes in many varieties available in wonderful colors, sizes, leaf forms -- ivy-leafed, for example, and variegated -- called zonal; can take some drought.HeliotropeThis is one of my favorite garden flowers, with fragrant purple flower clusters amid deep purplish-green leaves; there's a white variety also. It's about 15 inches tall, and works in bouquets if quickly plunged into water after cutting.LobeliaMasses of tiny white, pink, brilliant blue or purple flowers look great at the front edge of the border, or trailing from a container; takes part shade.MarigoldsOne of the most popular annuals, with many selections available, ranges from petites to giants, 3 inches to 24 inches, and colors from pale yellow to burgundy, including variegated; there's also a white form. Has a pungent, not floral aroma.Morning gloryHere's a joyful flower to come across every morning. This vine will climb any fence, trellis, shrub or tree if it gets plenty of sun and blooms profusely from midsummer. Each bloom dies the day it opens, but there'll be more tomorrow. It's available in a range of white to pink to blue, but I especially love "Heavenly Blue."NasturtiumThis trailing plant shows its bright, edible, yellow-to-red blooms best in fairly poor soil; in fertile soil, you'll see mostly leaves. Good in borders, trailing containers and salads.NicotianaAlso known as flowering tobacco, this has big leaves and star-shaped white, pink or rose flowers; about 18 inches to 4 feet tall, it takes a big space in the middle of your border.PansiesGreat spring and fall bloomers with lovely "faces" and fragrance; they tend to get leggy with smaller blooms as summer progresses and may keel over in heat. Makes a nice little bouquet or corsage.PetuniasYou'll find almost every color – from white through reds, pinks and purples, some pale yellow. It comes in single or double forms and grows anywhere from upright to trailing (the new 'Wave' petunias are fabulous trailers). Needs regular deadheading.PortulacaI like this moss rose as a ground cover for its bright colors and spreading habit in hot, dry areas. A happy, carefree plant.SalviaSpiky blooms add height to kitchen bouquets, available in many colors these days, from apricot to lavender, blues, pinks, red, purple and white. I especially like the blue Victoria for its long bloom and for bouquets.Scarlet runner beansThese bean vine plants make a nice annual fence cover with bright red blooms that precede tasty big flat beans.SnapdragonHere's a long-time favorite available in heights from 8 to 36 inches and a rainbow of colors from white through reds, pinks, yellows and orange. A great cutting flower that blooms all summer; a great bedding plant in masses.SunflowersThese giants of the garden are available as volunteers throughout your yard if you fed birds sunflower seeds through the winter. Sow seeds in early spring for many varieties ranging from a foot to 12 feet tall (if you can keep the squirrels away from them).Sweet peasGet these seeds in the ground early – April, even – for an early summer crop of delicious-smelling multi-colored delicate blooms. Some of the stems are 8 to 10 inches long on this vine plant, and picking bouquets of them encourages more blooms. Some varieties die when it gets hot, and even the "heat-resistant" aren't going to be really happy in hot weather. ZinniasThese fabulous flowers come in a great range of color and height, from hot reds and pinks to more tender pinks to white, some striped; these grow well from seeds planted in early to mid May. Annuals for shadeImpatiensA wonderful bloomer in single or double form, in many colors and bi- and tri- colors. Small plants get big and poofy in a shady border or container, droop when they're thirsty, perk up when watered.VincaA nice short plant with white or pink flowers; a good edging plant with dark, glossy leaves.BrowalliaStar-shaped blue or white flowers cover these 10-inch plants in shady locations; nice in a shady border or container.Begonia (wax) Small plants with clusters of white to pink and red clusters of flowers do well in mass plantings in shady borders or containers.Begonia (tuberous)Large, single or double flowers in delicious colors - yellow, white, apricot, red, pinks, bi-colored - look great in shady planters, and hanging baskets; you can overwinter the bulbs for possible bloom again next summer.ColeusGrown and used mostly for their unusual foliage – ranging from pale green to variegated pink and bright green to deep burgundy, with serrated to ruffled edges; a nice fill-in for very shady spots. Pinch off puny blooms in late summer to keep foliage lush. FuchsiaWhat a glorious hanging-basket flowering plant! This can't take much hot sun, but thrives in the shade and produces the most interesting bi-colored flowers of fuchsia-and-purple, pink-and-white; dark-pink-and-light-pink - great combinations, each bloom looking like an intricate chandelier.Polka-dot plantA foliage plant with green or nearly-white leaves dotted with pink splashes; a nice, spreading ground cover in woodland settings. Now that we've planted some ideas in your head, it's time to dig out your gardening tools and get your garden in full bloom.
