Gardening by Judith Adam In uncertain times, one sure thing is the arrival of a colourful flowering season on home ground. Annual flowering plants in soothing pastels and brilliant jewel tones will lift all spirits. But did you know that zinnias never rest? Annual flowering plants such as marigolds and snapdragons are frost tender in cold northern regions and, unlike winter-hardy perennials, they complete their growth cycle in one extravagantly floriferous summer season. Petunias, impatiens and annual geraniums are the mainstays of a colourful garden. They are ‘instant garden’ plants purchased to begin flowering immediately and complete their lives in one summer, finishing in the hard frosts of autumn. No need to schedule a trip to the garden centre – boxes of flowering annuals are available at almost every corner store and supermarket. Their fast growth potential quickly fills hanging baskets, patio containers and window boxes, and covers expanses of garden beds. Providing water-soluble fertilizer every 21 days will keep them pumping out masses of blossoms. So much rapid growth expends a lot of energy, and summer annuals reach a natural resting point at the end of July or in early August, when growth slows for about three weeks. Long stems and branches will need to be cut back to stimulate fresh growth andmore flower buds for the late summer through autumn weeks ahead. Zinnias are summer annuals with a different growth pattern, allowing them to power through the usual resting period and keep on blooming when others have temporarily slowed down. Each zinnia plant will carry a central flower and several side shoots with multiple blooms. Removing the central spent Zinnias, an indispensable annual 58 | www.snowbirds.org
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