My Top 10 Favorite Flowers

We're so happy to have Lindy giving us a few tips on selecting and growing lovely flowers. I was lucky enough to witness her beautiful yard on Maple Lane in the flesh, so when Lindy talks about flowers, I listen!

I don't consider myself an expert gardener, but I did train at the feet of my mother who is a master. Most of the pictures below come from my home on Maple Lane in Provo, Utah, which I moved from about a year ago.

Lots of my neighbors would ask me, "Lindy, how do you get so much color in your yard?"

Occasionally, if I was feeling chatty, I'd give them the long answer which involves good soil, regular watering, and plenty of sunlight. But usually, I just gave them the short answer, which is: "Plant annuals and Miracle-Gro them religiously. Trust me."

And, it's true. That's really all it takes for your yard to stop traffic (foot or otherwise). Here are my top 10 favorite easy to grow flowers. These plants are all low maintenance and provide tons of eye-popping, sidewalk-stopping color throughout the growing season.

1. Petunias, Wave and Cascading

I know the humble petunia is often thought of as old-fashioned and overdone, but they're popular for a reason; they're tough and stand up well to the dead-heat of summer. The key with petunias is to avoid the purple-red-white plantings exactly one foot a part amidst a vast expanse of soil. All plants look better and more natural when they are planted close together in clumps of three or five. As you can see below, I planted pink and magenta wave petunias all along the sidewalk leading up to my front door. Here they are in May. Small, but still colorful.

By October, they've become monsters. Yep, these guys bloom for a good six months+ in Utah (and in Georgia, too).

2. Geraniums
My grandma always planted red geraniums in pots. Red is a classic, but I love a mix of pink hues, too, as seen here in my window boxes.

Geraniums also look great paired with cascading petunias.

3. Pansies

I've planted "winter" pansies in both Utah and Georgia with great results. Put your pansies in the ground in the fall before first frost. As soon as the ground warms up in spring your pansies will start popping up and you'll be so very happy to see them.

4. Zinnias, Giant and Profusion
I'm such a sucker for giant plants. These Belara Giants are amazing; they grow up to 4 feet tall--literally inches overnight.

Profusion Zinnias are another staple in my yard. As their name suggests, they bloom profusely and can fill in a large expanse quickly. I love combining orange, white, and pink varieties with purple salvia.

5. Daisies

You're probably already very familiar with the adorable daisy. The white petals surrounding a sunny yellow center make for such a happy combination. They also make great cut flowers, and if you get the right variety, they will "naturalize" (spread on their own). Oh, and did I mention these little darlings are perennials? That means you'll have many happy returns on your initial investment.

6. Coneflowers

Purple and white coneflowers (also called echinacea) are fabulous for areas that get hot, all-day sun.

7. Rocket Snapdragons
I pass this quaint little house (actually I think it might qualify as a mansion) every day. The white picket fence is a perfect backdrop (and lattice) for these rocket snaps which grow up to 3-4 feet tall.

8. Black-Eyed Susans
My son use to call these "bumblebee flowers." They spread like crazy and some even consider them invasive. But they are always welcome in any yard of mine.

9. Sunflowers
Is that Jack and the beanstalk? Nope. It's Lindy and her giant sunflower. I planted a few seeds in May and look at what I had by July. Magical, I tell you.

10. Dahlias
These lovely ladies come in every size and color you can imagine. I love the plate-size varieties because they are just so dramatic. The best thing about dahlias? The more you cut the flowers off, the more they bloom. That's why I have a whole bucketful here waiting to be brought inside and put into vases.

Happy Gardening, everyone!

Gorgeous! Thanks, Lindy.