April 14 Column: Grow Annual Flowers

For today’s garden column, I thought it would be fun to write about some of the amazing cultivars of annual flowers available these days. Here’s a link to my column in The Spokesman-Review: Flowers bring beauty, birds, bees and butterflies to the garden.

Now, before I continue, take a close look at the photo to the left. Is that flower amazing or what?! It is a dwarf morning glory called ‘Blue Ensign’ and I saw it growing in the Chicago Botanic Garden. It is absolutely stunning. I know some folks cringe when they hear the words “morning glory,” but it’s likely they’re thinking of field bindweed which is a horribly invasive weed. This is a completely different plant, although they do belong in the same plant family. ‘Blue Ensign’ only grows 12 to 18 inches tall and I was thinking it would look terrific in containers. I will definitely be growing this one, folks!

The yellow flower to the lower right is Cosmos ‘Lemonade’. I grew it last year and it was just gorgeous. The bright orange flowers at the top of this post are zinnia ‘Persian Carpet’. Packets of these seeds contain a lovely mix of bright colors that really pop in a flower border. I’ve grown them for years and they are awesome.

Boy, was it hard to narrow down the fantastic offerings! But in my column, I highlighted some of the easiest and prettiest annual flowers I could find. Many of them will be gracing our garden this year.

And since I know you’ll be asking, I’ve put a list of sources for the seeds at the bottom of this post. But before you start looking online for them, remember to check with your local garden center so you can patronize a local business while saving on shipping charges. (please note: it’s not an all-inclusive list of sources but it gives you a few possible sources to start with)

Here is this week’s “Everyone Can Grow a Garden” video, which is about how to build a raised bed. I apologize for taking so long to cover this topic but have been at the mercy of the weather and my schedule! And, by the way, you’ll notice that my camera-shy husband, Bill, put in a cameo appearance.

Sources for the annuals I mentioned in my column:

Sunflowers:
Sunzilla _ Renee’s Garden 
Titan _ Renee’s Garden, Harris Seeds, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Mammoth Grey Stripe _ Burpee, Baker Creek, Botanical Interests
Autumn Beauty _ Baker Creek, Johnny’s Seeds, Burpee
Red Sun _ Baker Creek, Territorial Seed
Royal Flush _ Renee’s Garden, Gurney’s
Moonshadow _ Renee’s
Jade _ Johnny’s Seeds, Pinetree Garden Seeds
Peach Passion _ Botanical Interests, Johnny’s, Harris Seeds

Nasturtiums:
Amazon Jewel _ Renee’s Garden
Spitfire _ Renee’s Garden, Select Seeds
Moonlight _ Renee’s Garden, Select Seeds, Pinetree Garden Seeds
Phoenix (climbing – note there is also a more compact form of ‘Phoenix’) _ Renee’s Garden
Alaska _ Burpee, Renee’s Garden, Territorial Seed
Mahogany _ Burpee, Ed Hume Seeds
Peach Melba _ Burpee, Baker Creek, Pinetree 

Zinnias:
Mighty Lion _ Renee’s Garden
Oklahoma Scarlet _ Johnny’s Seeds
Hot Crayon Colors _ Renee’s Garden
Benary’s Giant Orange _ Johnny’s, Select Seeds, Harris Seeds
Persian Carpet mix _ Park Seed, Renee’s, Botanical Interests
Queen Red Lime _ Burpee, Park Seed, Johnny’s
Green Envy _ Burpee, Park Seed, Renee’s

Nigella:
Bridal Veil _ Renee’s Garden, Uprising Organics
Delft Blue _ Johnny’s, Uprising Organics, Harris Seeds

Morning Glory:
Royal Blue Ensign _ Renee’s

Cosmos:
Cupcakes (pastel and white – note that they might be hard to find due to their popularity) _ Burpee, Park Seed, Select Seeds
Double Click Cranberries _ Floret Flowers, Johnny’s, Harris Seeds
Double Click Snow Puff _ Park Seed, Johnny’s, Floret Flowers
Lemonade _ Burpee, Park Seed
Double Take _ Burpee