FlowerS
alyssum
Annual. One of my absolute favorites! No front border is prettier and more prolific than this low-growing petite beauty. After it’s first blooms fade, trim back and it’ll bloom again. Varieties to grow: Allure Pastel, Rosie O’Day & Oriental Nights. Easy to grow from seed. Pollinator-Friendly. Deer-resistant. Drought resistant.
baby’s breath
Annual. Full sun/Part shade. Direct sow in early spring as soon as soil can be worked. Can self-seed. Summer blooms. Great as dried flower. Drought resistant.
balsam
Annual. Part shade. Direct sow. Active self-seeder. Pollinator-friendly.
begonia
Annual (can be a perennial in zone 10). Part shade/Shade. Transplant.
black-eyed susan
Biennial. Full sun/Part shade. Transplant. Blooms summer-fall. Drought resistant.
bleeding heart
Perennial. Part shade. Blooms early-spring. Pollinator-friendly (it is one of the earliest sources of nectar in the garden). Deer resistant.
blue baptista
Perennial. Full sun. Blooms late spring to early summer. Drought tolerant. Transplanting this perennial can prove difficult given its long taproot.
cleome
Annual. I grew this tall, back-of-the-border, looker once, and it’s self-seeded each summer ever since. It looks quite fetching when grown with Cosmos and Cornflowers. Variety to grow: Fountain Blend. Self-seeds. Attracts hummingbirds. Pollinator-Friendly. Deer-resistant.
coleus
Annual (though can be overwintered inside as a houseplant). Part shade. Easy-to-propagate via stem cuttings. Keep pinched back for bushy plants.
columbine
Perennial. Full sun/Part shade. Transplant (slow to germinate…sometimes it will take 3-4 weeks).
cosmos
Annual. Years ago, I made a terrible error and omitted Cosmos from my garden. Oh, how they were missed! Never again, if anything, I’ve only sown more and more over the years. Deadhead for summer long blooms. Varieties to grow: Sensations, Bright Lights. Self-seeds. Back border plant. Pollinator-Friendly.
dahlia
Annual. Late summer/early fall bloomers that will make a flower addict out of anyone. Promote a bushier plant (which also means more flowers), by pinching back after plant gets 10” tall. Dig up the tubers after first frost and store for next year.
daisy
Annual. Full sun. Transplant. Blooms summer-fall. Keep deadheaded for continued blooms all season long. Pollinator-friendly.
daylily
Perennial. Full sun/Part shade. Blooms in summer. Edible flowers. Divide every 3-5 years.
delphinium
Each year, I add another patch of Delphinium to my perennial beds. The tall, striking spears of this beautiful border plant adds instant magic to any garden. Make sure to stake early on. Pinch back after first bloom for a second flowering in fall. Favorite varieties to grow: Shades of Blue & Galilee Blend. Self seeds.
forget-me-not
Perennial, short-lived. Part sun/Full shade. Transplant. Blooms spring-summer. Great in front borders.
foxglove
Biennial. Part shade. Transplant. Blooms late spring to summer. Great for back borders. Active self-seeder. Deer resistant. POISONOUS!
geranium
Annual. I can’t remember a summer going by without a pot of Geraniums on the patio. I love them all, but I hold an extra special place in my heart for Scented Geraniums (Pineapple, Strawberry, Chocolate and Citronella…heaven!!). I grow them in pots, then move them inside come fall (I then cut back the plant by a third) and they overwinter beautifully until next summer when they can go back outside. Easy to root up new plants by placing stem cuttings in a jar of water.
gilia
Annual. This round lovely is THE bee’s knees! Pollinators flock to these charming orbs. Favorite variety to grow: Gilia Globe.
hollyhock
Biennial (blooms in the second year). Full sun. Blooms in summer. Great in back borders. Pollinator-friendly. Keep far away from Mallow to avoid rust disease.
impatiens
Annual. Gardening in the woods, I can never find enough blooming plants that don’t mind our part-to-full shade, and Impatiens have long proved to be my go-to flower for adding that pretty punch of color to otherwise darker spots. Needs light to germinate. Slow to germinate from seed, but definitely worth growing from seed.
larkspur
Annual. Full sun. Direct seed in early spring (needs cold to germinate well). For use as cut flower: cut when blooms are 1/3 open. Great as a dried flower.
linaria
Annual. Favorite variety to grow: Fairy Bouquet. Pollinator-Friendly. Deer-resistant.
lupine
Perennial. Full sun. Direct sow in early spring as soon as soil can be worked, as it is not a fan of transplanting. I first spied these beauties growing all along the roadside when I first moved to Maine. But, interesting enough, they are not a native plant here, rather the result of some happy sower. Regardless, they’ve become woven into a beautiful symbol of Maine in the summer time. Deer resistant. Favorite variety: Russell Hybri
mallow
Perennial, short-lived. Direct sow in the early spring. Full sun/Part sun. Active self-seeder. Pollinator-Friendly. Deer-resistant. Drought tolerant. I had to learn the hard way to keep Mallows far, far away from any Hollyhocks in the garden as it can cause rust that can kill your Hollyhocks…as it did mine. Blooms summer through fall.
morning glory
Annual. For years I struggled to grow these heirloom vines, then one year, they took off and I’ve had nothing but success with them ever since. They are voracious self-seeders…sometimes to the point of becoming invasive, so best to collect seed pods prior to popping. Heavenly Blue. Nick the seed prior to sowing to aid in germination. Favorite varieties to grow: Something Old, Something New.
nasturtium
Annual. Nasturtiums are a wonderful flower for every gardener to grow. They’re leaves and blooms are both edible, offering a peppery punch in each bite. Some varieties grow into bushy plants great for front borders, while others offer a trailing habit which can be grow up a trellis or archway if tied up (it doesn’t produce shoots that can cling to the trellis). Soak seed overnight prior to sowing to aid germination. Favorite varieties to grow: Alaska Variegated & Fiesta Blend.
pansy
Annual. No garden is complete without a patch of Pansies. Their charm is too welcoming to be denied, and as a Northern gardener, they are always a reliable true bloomer. Deadhead for continued blooms.
petunia
Annual. Petunias are prolific pleasers that should have at least a small spot in your garden given too. I love growing mine in an old wheelbarrow and watching their trailing habit spill over come late summer. The wave varieties are great statement flowers to have as well. I start mine from seed each year. They are terribly slow-growing and the seedlings don’t really look like much, but once they’ve been transplanted out into the garden, lookout! They just take off and make themselves very much at home.
phlox
Annual. I love Phlox of all sizes…dwarf to tall. They are charming flowers that will attract pollinators of all sorts. They’re always a must-stop for our Hummingbird friends. Seeds need dark to germinate. Favorite variety to grow: Cecily Mix.
poppy
Annual or Perennial pending the variety. Full sun. Direct sow in early spring as soon as soil can be worked, as it is not a fan of transplanting. Save dried pods in fall for crafts and display. Deer resistant.
rose campion
Perennial. Full sun/Part shade. Blooms late spring through summer. Active self-seeder. Tolerates poor soil…this is an understatement. It has managed to grow prolifically in the root-bound, rock hard soil of our wood’s edge. Deer resistant. Drought tolerant.
snapdragon
Annual. Another garden must-have, they just bring too much happiness not to grow. Tend to be more of a fan of cooler weather. Pollinator-Friendly. Deer resistant.
sunflower
Annual. Is it possible to grow too many sunflowers? I don’t think so! From dwarfs to giants and every size in between, these flower favorites will add immediate awe to any garden. The seed heads provide a valuable food source to birds come fall, so leave a few up for your feather-friends to nosh. Favorite varieties: Elves’ Blend, Lemon Queen, Sunspot.
sweet pea
Annual. Garden bliss! A feast for the eyes, and an intoxicating aroma for the soul. In my garden, no trellis is complete without some of these striking climbers. They like their roots to stay cool, so I plant low-growing Alyssum and Violas beside them to offer some shade. Like cooler weather. Soak seeds overnight before sowing to aid germination. Favorite varieties: Old Spice, Perfume Delight, Royal Blend. Deer resistant.
zinnia
Annual. My love of Zinnias may be bordering slighting on obsession. A reliable friend to gardeners of all abilities, Zinnias offer show-stopping flowers all season long. Keep them deadheaded and you’ll be rewarded in big, branching plants bursting full of blooms. Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Favorite varieties: Cut-and-Come-Again, Northern Lights, Cactus Flower, Thumbelina (dwarf) & Peppermint Stick. Pollinator-Friendly. Deer resistant.