It's too bad that you cant go just a tad bit shorter than 2 to 3 feet, I had lots of suggestions for you that stays with the same one plant, but with color varations. One suggestions was to go with the Cosmic cosmos--all three colors red, orange and yellow which are totally stunning and vibrant mixed together. And incredibly easy to grow from seed! Another suggestion was Magellan zinnias, which will grow like dwarf hydrangea shrubs smothered with handsized blooms that last for months. I had blooms that did not need be removed for 4 months, I kid you not! And there is just about every color available, coral, ivory, yellow, pink, scarlet, cherry, orange, salmon. I am growing over 400 of these this year. Another suggestion was a mixture of Celosia 'Fresh Look' colors in red, orange,and yellow. Most people hate celosia because they have never had good luck with keeping them going, but the Fresh Looks are very stunning, lush, healthy plants that get just under 2 foot tall, if I remember correctly. Another suggestion was to do Gomphrena, in a mixture of colors. Gomphrena, if plants are kept together and properly spaced will grow to a 2 foot tall airy "shrub" that stands up to rain, drought, etc. I grow the "All Around Purple', 'Strawberry Fields', and other colors from Park Seed, including white, rose and bicolor rose. Dont underestimate those small colored balls! They can REALLY make a huge standout, if they are grown correctly. I second the idea of using Profusion zinnias. These are like the perfect daisy like flower! Also, the blooms did not need removed for 4 months, available in colors: cherry, white, orange, Fire (reddish orange) and Apricot (my favorite). Very easy to grow from seed. You may want to check into the Tidal wave Petunias. If you space them about 2 foot apart, they will spread out like you wouldnt believe and grow to about 2 foot tall. I have never seen a petunia grow like this before last year! Though, the silver would blend right into your house color, but they do make a purple, hot pink, and cherry color that I will be doing this year. Tidals have a massive branching system to them. Do a search on gardenweb and you will find lots of pictures and ideas for them.

without a pic.. its hard to give any great answer ... and i doubt the pill bugs are the issue ... but for the newb.. let me clearly tell you ... even in CA.. its fall ... many annual plants are winding down for the year... shot their wad .. and sooner or later.. its just time to be done with them ... its not really time to be trying to 'save' things ... you just dispose of them ... could they have lasted longer.. in a perfect world.. probably ... improve your soil .... water better [which is a function of better soil] .... etc... and next year.. they might last longer ... fall is a great time.. to rip everything out.. and work on soil prep.. for next year ... life in the garden.. gets much easier.. if you have good soil ... but by this time... its usually time to just get rid of annuals ... here in MI ... they often sell plants for fall planting.. like mums.. viola.. etc ... so we just rip out the uglies.. and plant some new things for fall viewing .. then winter comes.. and buries us in 200 feet of snow.. lol there is a soil forum ... or this forum ... or even the perennial forum ... to discuss working on your soil ,.. you never know.. where you will find the answers you are looking for... if you are interested in improving your soil..i suggest a new post.. with an appropriate title.. so other newbs might learn also ... as that topic is not about lobelia ... good luck ken

Shadyplace, you are talking about downy mildew of Impatiens. The symptoms typically start with a few leaves becoming completely yellow. Then all the leaves drop and all you have are bare stem and collapse. Spores may spread on the wind for miles and last in the soil for years. Downy Mildew disease only affects garden impatiens Impatiens walleriana, but all varieties. New Guinea impatiens are not affected nor any other garden flowers. Wet foliage, cool temperatures (especially at night), and moist air are ideal conditions for disease development. Beds receiving overhead sprinkler irrigation, because the foliage does not dry quickly are especially vulnerable. There is currently no worthwhile treatment and no resistance at all. Reputable nurseries have just about stopped selling impatiens. Once you have the problems, forget having impatiens until breeders have genes for resistance, probably biotech added since no one has found any resistance.

Godetia (syn. Clarkia) is indeed an annual, but I too would agree to leave it alone to see what happens this season. I agree with Al that plants do not perform according our calendar. While the definition of an annual is a plant that completes its life cycle during a single growing season, failure to bloom and set seed in that growing season can very well extend the life of the plant into a second season, as it has not yet completed its intent - to bloom and produce seed and reproduce itself. FWIW, I can list a number of "true" annuals (as opposed to tender perennials or biennials) that can survive longer than a single season. It will depend a lot on environmental influences, but plants tend to be extremely adaptable and the genetic predetermination to reproduce can be very flexible. Believe it or not, deadheading to remove spent flowers and prevent the plant from setting viable seed can go a long way in increasing the life expectancy of a single season plant.