Traditionally, forget-me-nots were blue. Today they come in both blue and white varieties. They bloom only once per year, which makes them an annual, but then go to seed. These beautiful tiny flowers will last for generations and can be thinned and passed on to family and friends. Once forget-me-nots have gone to seed, do not disturb the soil if you wish them to come up the following year.
Phlox
These beautiful flowers come in a wide variety of hues and colors. They should not be confused with the invasive dame’s rocket, which has only four petals while phlox has five. Phlox blooms profusely from the beginning of June to September. It’s a hearty plant that is completely free from disease. Seeds drop into the soil in fall and produce beautiful, healthy blooms year after year. Phlox has to be thinned annually if you don’t want it to run rampant.
Nicotiana
This is a beautiful plant to include in any garden. It has unique blooms of lime green, red, white or yellow. It grows between one and two feet in height and makes a beautiful backdrop for shorter flowers, blooming from early summer to fall. Nicotiana has a low tolerance to drought and needs to be watered frequently. Allow the flowers to go to seed in the fall for a marvelous showing the following year.
Dame’s Rocket
Dame’s rocket is a beautiful plant for any garden. It provides a splash of color in shades of pink, purple, white or violet. At night it releases a delicious fragrance that will drift across the yard on a cool summer breeze. It grows well in all types of soil. Dead-head blooms from mid spring to early summer, leaving the last blooms to go to seed for a fabulous showing the following year. Both plants and blooms are edible if pesticide isn’t applied. Dame’s rocket makes a beautiful, fragrant bouquet and is delightful to give to seniors or shut-ins.
Besides self-seeders there are many wonderful flowers that will bring a rainbow of color into your garden. The flowers mentioned here are traditional gardens that have been planted in flower gardens for decades. They each bring a touch of personality into your garden. Some are edible, some are not. Others are great to use in teas and for medicinal purposes.