seedboy, I don't know that there are 'best' annuals. But there is a very long list of great performers under a wide range of conditions. You'll need to evaluate the locations on your property for such factors as sunlight (how long and how much), soil conditions, and drainage. In Florida, you'll have plenty of options for the warm and hot months (spring and summer) as well as the cooler times (fall and winter). For example, this is not the time of year, in your location, to buy a flat of pansies. Though they may look wonderful at the garden center, they will only perform well for a very short time due to the heat. Fall is the time to plant them, for an all winter-long dispay. If you visit the Florida Forum, be sure to ask what their FAVORITE annuals are. I'm sure that people are likely to list such plants as marigolds, zinnias, gomphrena, Catharanthus roseus, portulaca, and lantana (which is a tender perennial but used as an annual.) And MANY more.

Howzit, Sorry for some reason it wont send me notification when I get a new message, just found that out so I had no idea I had responses XD Aight, well if you guys can shoot me an email ( Mantidave@gmail.com ) Id much appreciate it. Shoot me an email if ya can take pictures of the bugs for ID, Pueokai, cant guarantee an ID but I can try. I also have a contact or two in the DoA that might be able to gimme an idea or two if its a pest or something like that. Im on West shore, but just knowing the little buggers are there helps alot =/ By the time ya get back to me Ill be able to send you some info and links to the endemic species, the names, if ya can find much info online, are; Kamehameha Butterfly(Vanessa tameamea) and Blackburn(s) Hairstreak(Not sure of the scientific) Hmm, dont really go to Oahu much, but mail might work if its not a problem =/ Never sent anything back n forth between islands, I didnt even know you needed to have it inspected for inter-island (or maybe thats just the particular plant?) Thanks though, thats a good thing to know! So shoot me an email if ya'd be so willing, and Ill get back to you individually, easier for me to keep track of the info =p Aight everyone, thanks for the info n help, hope to chat atcha later! Aloha and all the best, ~Dave

The simplistic explanation is called climate adaptation (among other labels) - the seeds Mother Nature planted had time to adapt to their environment and maybe 1 in 100 adapted and survived to germinate and of those maybe 1 in 50 live a normal life. The seeds we plant have had no such adaptation time and we plant far less seeds and expect near 100% germination of healthy long=lived plants. And we often get it simply because we waited when Mom didn't. Mother nature is really a lousy mother when it comes to taking care of her kids. She's the "Good Luck, Kid. You're on your own." kind of mother. But that really is overly -simplistic and much of the confusion results from mis-interpretation or mis-applicationof guidelines. For example: guidelines are written in broad generalities in the hopes of applying to most situations and to provide the best odds for success. So "Plants started too early outside will end up less vigorous than plants started when warmer." is referring to seeds direct seeded outdoors when warmer, not to transplants - seeds and transplants are two very different things - and is very true simply because the seedling once germinated under ideal conditions will be less stressed, less damaged, more healthy than the seed that germinates under less than ideal conditions. Plus the folks that write these guidelines know that we always want to rush the spring planting season - to our own detriment - so they say anything they can to try to slow us down. It seldom works. ;-) Dave

I’ve started ... our threats of freezes are over. I’m currently renting a house, and drastically downsized, so don’t have room for growing cuttings, seeds, etc. Dragon Wing begonia, white Mandevillas, annual lantanas, Oleanders, marigolds, sweet potato vine, sweet basil, red cordylines, Dusty Millers. Daughter brought home a succulent pot, but as you can see I have to replant it in the proper medium. They (Farmer’s Market) used potting soil.