Also known as pot marigold, calendula is an excellent addition to any garden. The plant has been used for centuries for medicinal and culinary purposes. The leaves and petals are edible. The flowers are generally bright yellow or orange and top out at about 2 ft. Calendula is also used in vegetable gardens as a companion plant.  It is an easy-to-grow annual that prefers the cooler temperatures of spring and fall. It goes a bit dormant over the hot, humid days of summer but comes back to life in fall. It can tolerate light frost. Full sun. Deer and drought tolerant.

Coleus is a great addition to shade, part-shade areas. Their foliage comes in a variety of outstanding colors that add pops of color wherever they are planted. There are many varieties and colors, some are tolerant of full sun.

• Fast growers, 1-3 ft. tall and wide. 

• Full sun to shade, depending on the variety.

• Grows best in rich, moist, loose soil.  Great in containers but may require more frequent watering during dry spells.

• Flower spikes are blue to white (insignificant). 

• Plant after danger of frost. Coleus thrive in heat and humidity. Pruning can help maintain the size and appearance. Pinching off leaves at the nodes can promote a bushier plant.

 Dahlia Figaro mix is a dwarf, compact grower. It has the longest blooming period of most Dahlias, blooming from spring through fall. The semi-double to fully double flower bloom varies from white, yellow, orange, red, or violet. It is grown as an annual but the tubers can be dug up in fall and stored through winter.

• Mound-shaped growing 14-18 inches tall, 10-12 inches wide

• Full sun to light shade

• Moist, rich, well-drained soil. Great in containers, borders, or beds.

This beauty is a perennial in zones 7-10 and grows up to 5 ft. tall. The petals are edible and can be used in salads, desserts, and drinks!

• up to 5 ft. tall with 3" semi and fully double flowers

• Full sun

• Plant after danger of frost in average, well-drained soil. The flowers bloom on long, sturdy stems making them great as a cut flower. Best done in the morning. Blooms begin in summer and last through fall. 

• Bloom color varies from white, yellow, pink, purple, or red.

• Deer resistant.

A member of the mint family, lemon beebalm has a citrus or lemony scent when the leaves are crushed or rubbed. It is native to central and southern U.S. and northern Mexico. It is a short-lived perennial, usually grown as an annual or biennial. Will readily self-seed.

• 1-3 ft. tall, 1 ft. wide

• Full sun to light shade

• Prefers limestone-rich, rocky, or sandy soils but easily grown in average, dry to medium, moist well-drained soil.

• Showy, fragrant flowers are pink to lavender and a magnet to butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. The flowers are tiered, globular clusters, on stiff squared stems. They bloom from late spring to mid-summer.

This long-blooming annual is a favorite to bees and butterflies. Perennial in zones 9-11. It is a fast grower, reaching 6 ft. tall in a growing season. It has a strong central stalk, with many branches that spread out 2-3 ft. It is not densely branched, it doesn't tend to crowd out other plants.

• up to 6 ft. tall, 2-3 ft. wide

• Full sun

• Easy to grow, does best in poorer soil. Good drainage is a must.

• Flowers are yellow, orange, or red. Multiple, showy flowers bloom from mid-summer until fall.

• Drought and heat-tolerant. Deer resistant.

This plant has it all. Unique foliage, the entire plant is edible, attracts pollinators, and is a trap crop. Planted around and throughout vegetable gardens, it aids in drawing aphids and other pests away from your crops. It is an annual, low-maintenance plant that can be grown in containers or beds and borders. There are many varieties, some are compact and bushy, and some are trailing, sprawling out 6 ft.

• 'Alaska Variegated'

•  10-12 in. tall, compact, mounding

• Full sun.

• Average, well-drained soil. Flowers are red, orange, yellow, and red. The leaves are green and white with cream and green strips (variegated).

• Deer and rabbit resistant.

The tropical milkweed is native to South America, it is grown as an annual in zone 7 and below.  It is easy to grow and Monarchs love it. There is generally a few butterflies on it at a time,

• 3-4 ft. tall

• Full sun

• Does well in average, well-drained soil. Can tolerate drier soil once established. Fast grower and provides orange and red flowers from mid-summer until fall.

There are so many to choose from and no matter what you choose, it will bring you joy. Zinnia is an annual flower that begins blooming in early summer and continues blooming until frost. They are excellent for cut flowers. The more you cut, the more they bloom. They are easy to grow, and love sun, heat, and humidity. Zinnias can tolerate many soil conditions but will thrive in soil rich in organic matter and well-drained.  They are prone to powdery mildew, so allowing enough space between plants to promote good air circulation can help.