No, you haven’t missed the previous 456 posts about planting annuals. The title is a bit whimsical but not untrue…I could undoubtedly make a listing of reasons to plant annuals that would have at least 500 items on it. In additition to listing individual plants from Abutilon to Zinnias, there are scores of other reasons that annual plants belong in every garden. Today, I offer but one, which might or might not be #457 should I ever actually write this list.

Annuals make it easy to celebrate fall. As the growing season winds down, and the days grow increasingly shorter, it’s hard not to wish that summer might be extended a month or two. But at the end of August and through September many annuals are at their prime, and many of the flowers last longer when the evenings are cooler. If you find yourself getting sad when fall arrives, maybe you need to plant more annuals.

Here is how my “Annual Alley” looked on September 13th. I plant a different combination of plants here every year and in the fall the abundance and color makes everyone smile.