Perennials and Annuals are the "accessories" of the garden - they provide the one thing that almost everyone wants in their garden - color! What is the difference between an annual and a perennial? Well, an annual completes its entire life cycle in a single season and usually bites the dust after the first frost. This includes flowers such as petunias, inpatiens and marigolds. Perennials, on the other hand, live from year to year. They might die down during the winter but their roots remain active and they will reappear next spring. Both types of plants come in all colors, shapes and textures and therefore require careful planning to integrate them into your garden. Don't get too stressed out about them though because most transplant well and it is fun experimenting - just think of them as furniture in a room - rearranging is no major deal!
The winter months are a good time to start thinking about your spring garden. The most important thing to do is find out what plants do well in our hot, humid and often dry summers. Don't think that just because the local nursery or Wal-Mart has the plant then it is a good one for your area. Usually it will be but not always - take delphiniums for example. Delphiniums thrive in cool summers and moist climates but yet I see them every year at my nursery!
Make a list of plants that personally appeal to you and think about ways to combine them in your garden. There are certain factors to consider. The most important are size and color. If you are creating a flower border you want to place tall plants at the back of the border, mid-size plants in the middle and low-growing and trailing plants in front. Research your plants before you go to the nursery and always read the label on the plant if in doubt.
Color is a trickier business and is left to the individual. Many don't mind throwing all colors together with no rhyme or reason but the discriminating gardener probably will. If so, do you want a color theme such as a pastel palette or stronger, brighter colors? Perhaps you want an all white garden? Don't be afraid to experiment and do what appeals you. It's your garden!
No matter what colors you choose, a pleasing flower border often incorporates both perennials and annuals for success. This is because perennials do not bloom as long as annuals but yet perennials are some of the most beautiful flowers in the world and they also provide unique textures and unique characteristics that annuals do not. Annuals are often used as a side dressing, if you will, to "fill in" areas of the border where color will be needed when the perennials are not in bloom.
The list of plants at the left are ones that I have grown in my northwest Alabama garden and they have performed admirably for me. I have included tips and characteristics of each one.