Annuals Archives - The Inspired Garden

July 7, 2021February 21, 2022

Inspired Summer Annuals

“Summertime. It was a song. It was a season. I wondered if that season would ever live inside me.”
— Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Annuals bring magic to any garden. They grow quicker, bloom longer, and produce more flowers than perennials do. Available in a wide variety of vibrant colors, annuals can fill in gaps between seasons and add instant pops of color where needed. My five favorite early summer annuals are all deer-resistant and do well in extreme heat. Inspired Garden tip: resist the urge to put them in rows and plant in clusters of 5 instead.

Zinnias come in so many heights and colors, so use them in your taller sections and in borders. They make great cut flowers.

Cosmos can grow up to 6 feet tall, so place them in the middle or back of your garden. I love the airy texture of the foliage.

Angelonia grow super fast and attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Also known as summer snapdragons, they have spires of flowers and green, glossy foliage.

Vinca have shiny green leaves and five-petaled blooms in pink, red, white, lavender, or purple. Perfect for borders, these compact plants will grow to about 15 inches tall.

Marigolds are another great border plant, and bring bright bursts of oranges and yellows. They attract butterflies, as well as other insects that eat pests that can damage your plants. Marigolds are edible too!

If you would like to read more information on gardens and indoor plants check out our Get Inspired newsletter.

Happy planting!

Laura

March 17, 2021February 21, 2022

Annuals vs. Perennials

“Every flower blooms in its own time.”
— Ken Petti

Every client wants a garden that blooms from early spring through fall. They want a variety of flowers that peak at different times, and colors that pop for three straight seasons. And… they want it to come back year after year with minimal effort. It’s a lot to ask for, but it can be done with a mix of perennials and annuals.

When planning a garden, I suggest choosing 85%-90% perennials, and 10%-15% annuals. Planting both, and carefully selecting the right plants for your zone, will produce a parade of color from April through October. Before choosing your favorites, it’s important to understand the differences between them.

Perennials return every year. Their blooms typically last a few weeks, but there are some varieties that last for months. It can take a few years for some perennials to reach their full potential (which is often pictured on the tag when you purchase them), but your patience will definitely be rewarded. They are low maintenance since they don’t need to be cleared out at the end of the season or replanted year after year. Some perennials only last 3-5 years, but others can last a lifetime.

Some of my favorites include coneflowers, astilbe, and coreopsis.

Annuals have one life cycle, and therefore will not return each year. But— they bring the magic to any garden. Annuals produce many more flowers than perennials and bloom for a much longer period of time. If there are sections of your garden that don’t bloom until early summer, you can throw in some annuals for instant color. They take a bit more effort because they need to be planted each year and cleared out at the end of the season, but because of their shallow roots they require less digging than perennials. Keep in mind that some annuals are meant for cooler weather and others for warmer weather.

Some of my favorites include zinnias, snapdragons, and marigolds.

It takes a little planning to get the garden of your dreams, but identifying the gaps and tucking in annuals as needed will create a colorful show for months on end.

Happy Planting!

Laura

If you would like to read more information on gardens and indoor plants check out our Get Inspired newsletter.