The Art of Short Term Investment

Annuals may not be here for a long time, but they’re here for a good time. Unlike perennials, which bloom for only part of the year, annuals bring continuous color and blooms from spring to fall. Their vibrant flowers are a magnet for pollinators, so planting annuals will likely invite plenty of activity into your garden.

Since annuals are short-lived, they offer a wonderful way to experiment with different varieties each season. This lets you you refresh your garden every year with new ideas. Planning your garden can feel like an art form. Just as an artist develops their style, new gardeners can explore and discover their unique approach to gardening. Annuals allow for this without long-term commitment.

Some of our favorite annuals include:

• Cosmos

• Marigolds

• Snapdragons

• Sunflowers

• Nasturtiums

• Zinnias

• Petunias

• Verbena

…and many more.

While annuals won’t return the following season, there are some types that have the ability to re-seed. The dropped seeds can sprout the next year as a surprise. Some gardeners enjoy these “volunteer” plants, while others prefer a more controlled spread. Do your research, embrace the flexibility of annuals, and happy planting!

The Potential of Permanent Perennials

Perennials are types of plants that help you build long-term structure in your garden. They’re a great way to grow plants that you love with the benefit of returning year after year. Of course, their longevity depends on climate and soil conditions, but for the most part, they are permanent fixtures to a garden. You can use them to create borders, focal points, or even natural backdrops, providing stability and beauty through the seasons. These plants offer the luxury of “low” maintenance, allowing you to avoid starting fresh each year and adding consistency to your garden plan.

Great examples of perennials:

• Lavender

• Cone Flowers

• Russian Sage

• Irises

• Shasta Daisy

• Black Eyed Susans

• Daffodils

• Poppies (exceptions to varieties)

• Peonies

• Daylillies

• Bee Balm

  …and many more.

Some plants are considered “Tender Perennials” which means they can survive in warmer climates (zones 8-11) and come back each year. However, in colder climates where the ground freezes they won’t survive. In this case most gardeners will dig up the tubers and store indoors after the first frost. That gives them the ability to re-plant them the following year.

A Flower Meant to Live Forever

This split-centered daffodil was found beside a 200+ year-old cemetery containing the graves of those who once called this property home. Untouched and unmaintained for as long as the flower itself, these blooms were likely planted in remembrance.

Upon discovering them, it was assumed these beautiful, fragrant daffodils were planted for two women laid to rest inside the cemetery walls: Narcissa, a shared name between mother and daughter. While we can’t confirm with certainty this was the intent, the setting seems too perfectly curated for it to be a coincidence. Before designer bags, luxury cars, or other symbols of wealth, horticulture was a way to display luxury. These florals would have been regarded as such when they were planted.

This small flower, possibly planted over 150 years ago, has remained untouched, flourishing on its own. It stirs the imagination, invoking curiosity to remember two women who were loved and mourned those many years ago. Women who once walked the same land I now call home. A home we share. The flower quietly tells its story, fulfilling a purpose to leave a legacy and never be forgotten.

For the first time, I realized what more a perennial can be: a piece of personal history, a time capsule for future generations to discover and remember. Perhaps 150 years from now, the blooms I leave behind, to represent my own family will invite someone to remember and never be forgotten.