The Santa Cruz Sunset begonia has dramatic angled petals. These plants fall into the tropical and subtropical category of perennials, growing well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 11. Many varieties with ornamental leaves and blossoms grow well outside in USDA zones 10 and 11, while hardy begonias survive winters in USDA zones 6 through 9 …

With their nodding heads, Campanula, or bellflower plants, are pretty perennial flowers. Bellflowers will bloom heaviest in June and July but can delight you with flowers all the way into October in some areas. The plant is native to many of the U.S. regions where cool nights and moderate temperatures prevail, creating ideal conditions for growing bellflowers. They require full …

A perfect use for your beefsteak tomato: a California BLT Avocado Bacon Lettuce A beefsteak tomato (in this case: a Mortgage Lifter) Mayonaisse Sourdough bread – toasted

Among the garden’s most elegant vines, mandevilla offers stunning trumpet-shape flowers in shades of pink, white, or red. It’s the perfect plant for creating a lush, tropical look. Mandevilla is usually grown as an annual, though it can be overwintered indoors in a bright spot. Note: All parts of this plant are poisonous. First planted in 2014. I relocated the …

When the petals fall away and the leaves dry up, you are left with seed pods. These are from asiatic poppies (Danish Flag poppies). Marie captured this image in 2010.

A gift from Marie’s brother Thomas

The exotic yellow and red blossoms of the gloriosa lily (Gloriosa superba), also known as the glory lily, flame lily and climbing lily, cover the plant’s 3- to 8-foot-tall vine. Native to Africa and Asia, gloriosa lilies are generally available in two colors: the red “Rothschildiana” and yellow “Lutea.” A tender perennial, this tropical vine thrives in the warm summer …

Formerly known as million bells, calibrachoa is an easy to grow, low-maintenance plant that displays masses of bell-shaped, petunia-like blooms from spring until the first light frost. The blooms cover long, cascading branches that make the plant ideal for containers or hanging baskets. Sun-loving calibrachoa reaches heights of 6 to 10 inches and displays a rainbow of bright colors, depending …

Petunias are near fail-proof summer annuals. Plant in the ground, containers, or hanging baskets. For continued blooms, cut back one-third to two-thirds midsummer (August).