For summer annuals in sunny spots I use zinnias.

This post was edited by socalgal on Tue, May 27, 14 at 20:47

cosmos are good also annual portulaca (common name "moss rose")

thanks for the suggestions. is it time to pull the snapdragons and pansies do you think?

i'm not sure how long these annuals should last....the pansies look a little better than the snapdragons....maybe put the zinnias in behind them? or just yank them and start with new fresh flowers?

All you need to do is prune the snapdragons to just about 6 to 12 inches from the ground. They'll bounce back like new in a few weeks.

I also deadhead my pansies to keep them blooming longer.

Godetias are a wonderfully long lasting colorful display.
Rudbeckia 'Prairie Sun' is my favorite. They're in the nurseries now.
Cosmos reseed well here. Tall and colorful.
Love the Profusion zinnias. Shorter, profuse smaller flowers, long blooming.

You can cut the pansies back by half and put your new plants between them. Hot temperatures usually do them in.

Or you could replace with some virtually everblooming perennials instead, such as various colors of hybrid Arctotis or Osteospermum, and Cistanthe grandiflora, which will remain in bloom all year long in southern California. Lobelia and Sweet Alysum are also great for one/two years of constant bloom. Zinnias and Cosmos are more work to keep bloomin with all that deadheading.

Or you could replace with some virtually everblooming perennials instead, such as various colors of hybrid Arctotis or Osteospermum, and Cistanthe grandiflora, which will remain in bloom all year long in southern California. Lobelia and Sweet Alysum are also great for one/two years of constant bloom. Zinnias and Cosmos are more work to keep bloomin with all that deadheading.