In the Garden: Annuals add delightful color all season long

Flowers are one of the most delightful aspects of a garden. The sheer variety of blossom colors, plant heights and leaf shapes is mindboggling. Some have pleasant fragrances, which adds another dimension to the experience. It’s fascinating to watch butterflies and other insects that visit them, as well.

Last year, the star in my garden was Cupcakes cosmos. I first saw a photo of them on Instagram and discovered they were all the rage in Great Britain. And rightly so. Until that moment, I had never seen a cosmos flower with fused petals and – like so many other gardeners – I knew I had to acquire seeds. Fortunately, there are U.S. sources for them.

Cupcakes did not disappoint in the least. The plants grew to a surprising 4 feet in height and bloomed endlessly in white, pale pink and deep rose. I was constantly taking photos of them.

Cosmos is one example of an annual flower that grows, blooms, sets seed and dies in a single growing season. While perennial flowers add color and interest to a garden, they often bloom for short periods of time. Since most annual flowers bloom all season long, they fill in the gaps when other plants are taking a break.

Here are some of my go-to annuals. All of these prefer full sun and can be direct-sown in the garden once the danger of frost has passed.

Cosmos: There are many varieties well worth growing. Some of my favorites include pale yellow Lemonade, garnet-colored Cranberries, double white Snowpuff, burnt-orange Diablo and, of course, Cupcakes. The plants range from 2 to 5 feet in height. Their lacy foliage is beautiful, and the flowers attract pollinators.

Love-in-a-Mist: This old-fashioned annual is prized for its pastel flowers, intricate foliage and the coolest seed pods ever. Delft Blue has splashes of deep blue on the petals and purple centers. Miss Jekyll Mix is a dreamy combination of the palest blue, periwinkle and soft rose blossoms. Also known as Nigella, these plants will grow 1 to 2 feet tall.

Nasturtium: There are so many colors and growth habits for choosing. Examples of small mounded varieties include Alaska Variegated, ruby-red Black Velvet and creamy Peach Melba with raspberry centers; each grows just 1 foot tall. Two attractive climbers are red Spitfire and Climbing Phoenix, which is unusual for its split-petal blossoms in a mix of colors.

Sunflower: These perky flowers bring in the bees and are available in a wide range in sizes. Examples of dwarf varieties include Big Smile and bushy-petaled Teddy Bear; both will grow about 1 feet in height. Autumn Beauty is striking for its flowers in fall colors and a height of 5 to 8 feet. For a little something out of the ordinary, try Chocolate with its dark mahogany blooms; it is a branching type that will grow up to 5 feet tall.

Zinnia: Between their bright, cheerful blossoms and the fact that they attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, zinnias should be given a spot or two in every garden. Benary’s Giant Series comes in a stunning array of hot colors, while Queen Red Lime and Queen Lime Orange feature an unusual hint of chartreuse in their petals. The Zahara series of zinnias is one of my favorites because of their more compact growth habit and profusion of blossoms. I also grow Persian Carpet for its petite two-toned flowers in orange, red, gold and burgundy.