Annuals are for the birds… As I mentioned in my article on Easy Green Lawns, I love having one of the nicest landscapes in the area, but I also enjoy having the freedom to take shortcuts, which in turn, allows me to spend more time on enjoyable tasks.

In this post I would like to give you some tips on how to do a chore once, and not yearly.

Lets start with flowers. We want to have manicured, flower ridden beds as soon as it first hint of warm weather arrives. But why do more work than you need to? Work smarter, not harder.

Why go to the nursery every year to buy new flowers? Take the time and energy to prepare the soil, dig the hole, mend the soil, plant the flowers and water them. Then, mulch the plant to pretty up around the base.

Here are some easy choices you may want to try:

Flowers
1. Violas are the ticket, if you like the look of pansies. Here in New England, one of the harshest climates, we had these beautiful flowers blooming in the snow!

They seem to be evergreen and prolific, spreading every year. They don’t require any care after they have been hardened in. And by that I mean; plant and water every day for one week, then forget they are there.

2. Creeping Phlox: Come in all colors, evergreen and extremely hardy!

3. Ajua

Herbs
1. Mother of Thyme: Evergreen so beautiful first when the snow melts and you can walk on it, mow it, etc. Best of all, you can use it to cook all-year-round, even in the winter.

2. Lemon Thyme

If you want specific information on a certain item or color scheme, write me and I will be happy to advise.
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I did writing.

Till next time,
Loretta