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 Agrostemma: 'Ocean Pearl' Sometimes known as Corn Cockel. A tall annual that makes a good cut flower, with five petaled white blooms. Other varieties available in bright pink/purples. Easy to grow, but may be invasive. 24-36", full sun.
 Alyssum: Low growing edging plant that spreads in a neat mound and blooms prolifically spring to frost. Fragrant blooms are white, blue or blue-violet, and prefers sun. May sometimes self seed, so you get some help on next year's edging. A few inches high, spreading up to a foot. Fairly tolerant of poor and dry conditions, but do best with good soil and moisture. Will grow well from seed, plants are widely available in garden stores.
 Anagallis monelli (or pimpernel): 'Skylover' A rare true bright blue, five petaled flowers with pink centers. Excellent for garden beds, borders and planters, blooming in late spring until frost. Will trail slightly. Plant in full sun, prefers regular fertilizing and moisture but can tolerate short drought periods.
 Bacopa: 'Snowstorm' A heat tolerant white flowered plant with deep green foliage that trails beautifully out of planters, baskets and window boxes.. Stems are covered with small five petaled bright and cheery white flowers. Will grow well in sun or shade, but requires frequent watering in full sun Fertilize regularly. (Bacopa is an herb known for medicinal benefits, and a perennial in the south.)
 Cannas: This tropical plant is, of course, an annual in the north and midwest, requiring full sun in the northern garden. These tall and elegant flowers make a dramatic statement, even with only one plant. Up to 6' tall and grows into a large clump. Prefers a rich, well drained soil. Root clumps can be stored over winter, but not without difficulty.
 Cineraria: Beautifully mounded compact plants covered in flowers. It is actually a perennial grown in zones 8 and 9, blooming in winter, or a houseplant. In the Midwest Garden, of course it is an annual, preferring full sun. May be very hard to find, so if you run across them, pick one up. This gorgeous plant would be worth trying to save indoors over the winter.
 Caladium and Coleus: With so many new varieties of coleus, there is a color, size and texture for nearly any spot you need a bright accent. You will find interesting shaped leaves, speckly and spotty patterns, and colors from chartreuse to violet. Great for brightening shady spots, or to add color and texture to your pots in the shade. Known for their shade tolerance, many varieties also do very well in part to full sun. Pinch back to keep a nice mounded shape.
 Cosmos bipinnatus 'Picotee': Just one of the many fast growing, prolific cosmos, the ‘Picotee’ provides 80 days of flowers, white blooms outlined in red. Most Cosmos reseed themselves quite readily grow very quickly, and produce 3-4” double daisy-like blooms in pink, red, white and lavender.. Prefers full sun but will tolerate light shade, growing to 4' to even 6’ tall by end of season. Grows well from seed.
 Dahlia: Hundreds of varieties are available, from 1 to 5 feet tall, but the huge blooms of the dinner-plate dahlia are a show stopper. Dahlias require more preparation and care than the average annual, especially if you plan to store the roots for next year. Soil must be fertile, organic matter added annually for best results, and be moist but well drained. They need good air circulation, so don’t crowd them. Plant them 8 inches apart for dwarf varieties, and up to 18 inches apart for the tall 5 foot varieties. The eye of the tuber (growth bud on the thick  root- think of an eye on a potato) should be 2 to 3 inches below the surface. If your dahlia came in a container, plant it at the same depth it was in in it’s pot. Dahlias can be grown from seed, started indoors 4 to 6 weeks ahead of 70 degree weather. Seeds will germinate in 5 to 14 days.
 Geranium (Zonal): Geraniums are widely used, and for good reason. They are easily grown in moderately rich soil, and are great in formal beds, baskets, tucked in here and there in a perennial garden or for a bright spot in front of evergreen shrubs. Dead head and fertilize regularly (or mix in a slow release fertilizer when planted) to produce steady blooming. Plant in full sun for best results.
 Impatiens: Can't do without impatiens in the shade. They add an easy bright spot to even heavily shaded areas, and do very well in morning sun if you don't let them dry out. Plant them in masses, in pots or baskets, or tuck one or two in here and there. They will wilt and drop their petals in too much sun, and will need constant watering. 'New Guinea' impatiens are larger, sturdier, and tolerate more sun.
 Licorice: (Helichrysum) This non-flowering annual is a fabulous addition to hanging baskets or pots. Trailing soft silvery green branches pairs beautifully with bright ivy geraniums or verbena. Limelight is a lime-green variety. The Helichrysum is drought tolerant, but other plants you pair it with may not be.
 Marigold: 80-90 days of creamy yellow, yellow, or yellow orange flowers. Sun lover, tolerates heat and neglect. Grows easily from seed. Many new hybrids with much different bloom “looks” and a variety of colors.
 Million Bells: (Calibrachoa) Excellent trailing plant that blooms profusely. The blooms and plant are similar to a small petunia. They are ideal for spilling out of small pots or spreading to fill a small open space. Requires minimal care, no deadheading. Will tolerate neglect.
 Morning Glory: (Ipomoea) Nasturtium like flowers on a delicate vine. Older varieties’ blooms are open dawn to mid morning, but newer varieties hold their blooms open most of the day. The vines grow very quickly, reaching 10 feet or more. If the soil is too rich, the plant will put more energy into foliage and seed production, so for best blooming, plant in average soil. This self seeder should reproduce each year. Blooms for 70 days.
 Petunias: This old favorite is new again, with many hybrids available. They bloom profusely all summer and are available from petite to sprawling. They are for the most part easy care, but look best with regular deadheading. For super full plants, pinch most or all the stems back about halfway within the first few weeks of planting. And if they get to "leggy", pinch a few stems back again. For an upright plant try Tidal Wave. For more mounded, compact plants use the Easy Wave. Most of the Wave petunias are best for hanging basket s, spilling out of pots or tumbling down a hilly landscape. But you can't beat the old fashioned Supercascade petunia for baskets - if you can find them!
 Purple Fountain Grass: (Penniseturm setaceum 'Rubrum') A quick growing green-burgundy grass with arching plumes gives large pots a stately centerpiece. Surrounded by colorful annuals and vines, it creates a knock-out "potscape". 'Red Riding Hood' is a smaller version, about 20-30" tall.
 Sweet Potato Vine: (Ipomoea batatus) The large lime green heart shaped leaves of 'Margarita' or 'Terrace Lime' gives a bright lift to pots or baskets in light shade. 'Blackie' has rich purple-red textured leaves. This vine grows quickly, so make sure it has plenty of room to trail, or trim back.
 Zinnias: These bright daisy like annuals stand tall on strong stems, and are the queens of neglect. Most don't mind poor soil, and hot dry conditions. No deadheading, and cutting promotes more blooms. Taller varieties may need support in windy areas. Great in a vase. Grows quickly and easily from seed, or buy bedding plants. Zinnia 'Mexicana" self sows
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