You have a great deal of common sense, gifts of observation, and a wonderful curiosity. Oh, and a natural green thumb! Does that boost your confidence? Let's see if I can get these right: asters, mums, pansies, Homestead Verbena, and dahlias are all perennials. Some of them are tender perennials (that's a true botanical category) in that they WILL croak in severe temperatures. Remember, being killed due to temperatures outside their comfort zone (hot or cold) has nothing to do with their reproductive cycle which is what all of these categories are based on. Others are treated AS annuals (disposable) for a variety of reasons. (Southerners rip up pansies in the late spring to replace with summer annuals) Also, there are some verbena (like the Homestead), and salvia that are perennial, while others are annuals. Depends upon the species. Same with snapdragons. Garden snaps and pansies can also be categorized as 'cool season' perennials. In the South, they are planted in the fall and can be expected to do quite well over the winter. What would our southern winter flower beds look like without pansies! Alyssum is a true annual, and strongly self-seeding from year to year. It's considered a hardy annual, thriving in the cooler temperatures of early spring, fall, and Southern winters. But you know what? WHO CARES? :-) It's interesting and fun to discuss (and even bicker) about, but it doesn't make much difference, does it?

Hi Marric, Last summer my Polidor cosmos grew just over 4' in turned up soil around our new home. No soil amendments at all last year. This year I'm adding either seasoned cow manure (getting a truckload) or compost. I'll see how they grow then. It was awfully hot last summer and those babies took the heat in stride. I was impressed. Minimum water too since we're on well water. Hoping this year with soil amendment next year things will grow more with even less watering. I do love them though for the never ending show from mid-summer through to a hard fall frost. And the seeds - I have a margarine tub full of them. Going to be putting them all over the garden this summer and hopefully grow some down the sides of our long country drive. Incredible.

KrazyKim-- Sunflowers are KING. You almost certainly HAVE to grow them!!!!!!! There have been several threads about best varieties, some of them in the "Journal" entries, some of them in the "What worked best for you/what will you grow next year" threads. Read some of the older threads on pages 2-10 of this forum and you should find LOTS of info. I'm enjoying my first small stand of sunflowers in years. For ten thousand reasons I haven't been successful with them in recent years,(and may not again be this summer) primarily due to me being an idiot! They are probably the easiest flower to grow EVER and I've failed! LONG stories, won't go into here. The experts use the Pro-Cut series, the Sun Series, Starburst Series, and dozens of others. I think you could close your eyes, turn around 3 times, and then point to a variety and it will be fabulous for you. Good luck, Susi.

Right now, tomatoes are my LEAST favorite reseeders! They grew everywhere this year, even more than last year. Must have been in the compost and not cooked enough. Hating goldenrod - it tries to take over and there are several different kinds here; I was coddling one thinking it was Balloon Flower. Love: Alyssum Petunias Forget me nots Cosmos Ageratum (they don't flower as fast as indoor starts) Violas, but they petered out this year after a 5 year run First year trial: blue woodruff - asperula - is supposed to reseed. I threw some seed on the ground just a few weeks ago and it is already blooming. Hope it comes back. It's a lovely delicate blue flower.