For the most part, all the flowers are annuals. Meaning quicker germination and quicker blooms! There may be a few perennial varieties in some garden themes, but these are generally the one's our in house horticulturalist has hand selected that bloom in their first season and are too spectacular to leave out of our mixes. Annual flowers bloom in their first season that is why we use mostly all annuals.

A perennial is a plant that will live multiple growing seasons, unlike an annual which grows, sets seed, and dies all in one season. Their flowering time is not as long as an annual because the plant must take time out to gather enough strength to overwinter, but the range of flowering times, colors, heights, foliage color, and textures, make for a fascinating plant pallet to work with.

Annuals generally grow and flower in the same season, then die. Perennials should overwinter for several seasons.

Annuals are plants that live for only a year. Some annuals such as most poppy varieties will re-seed giving the appearance of a perennial. A biennial will die in its second year after germination but some varieties do re-seed and hence behave like perennials. They may flower in both the first and second years, or in the second year only. Perennials are plants that live for three or more years.

A perennial is a plant or flower that lasts many seasons. These are more or less permanent plants in a garden. A biennial is a flowering plant that takes 2 years to complete its life cycle. In the first year it grows from seed to leafy plant. The second year, however, it flowers, re-seeds, and dies back like a perennial. It then repeats the 2 year cycle. In most nurseries, biennials are bought as annuals because the nursery has taken care of the first year of growing.

An annual completes its life cycle on one growing season. The seed is usually plantedin the spring and then dies sometime in the fall. Examples of some annuals that grow well in this area are tomatoes, impatiens,marigolds and many more. Plants that bloom for more than one year are called perennials. Once they are planted you will same time and effort and will be rewarded with the flowers year after year.

Try mixing some mushroom manure in with your soil, or use it as a mulch. Mix some high-phosphorus fertilizer (phosphorus is the middle number "10" in: 5-10-5) into your flower bed and follow-up with liquid fertilizer such as Peters 20-20-20 or Bloom Booster. Keep flower beds watered --- especially new plantings. Morning is the best time to water flowers, evenings are alright -- but the earlier in the evening the better.

BOB: If you plant sensitive flowers before Memorial Day in the Pittsburgh area, you may find you'll have to protect plants from frost. We find burlap works the best, but an old bed sheet or similar fabric will do just fine. Some people use newspaper or paper shopping bags if wind isn't a factor. Remember: Covering plants won't protect them against a freeze --- in which case they must be moved to area that will remain above 32 degrees.

Perennial pastures can be more profitable than annual pastures due to their ability to convert "out of season" rainfall into quality feed. This increases livestock production over the difficult summer and autumn period and reduces the need for costly supplementary feeding. Perennial pastures are more sustainable than annual pastures because of their deeper root system and permanent ground cover.

Preen works by killing seeds, so it is safe for and will not harm existing, mature perennials plants. When applying, try to avoid getting Preen on the plant foliage, which could cause discoloration or damage with long-term contact. (Just brush or wash off any stray granules.) I found a list of Frequently Asked Questions on the Preen website that may be of interest: http://www.preen.com/newpreen/prdpreen/faq.jsp

PNAR, also known as year-round nonalleric nasal symptoms, involves inflammation (swelling) and irritation of the lining of the nose that is not caused by an allergic reaction, or allergies. People suffering from this nasal condition typically have stuffiness, a runny nose, and postnasal drip throughout the year, even when there seems to be no real cause or allergen present. PNAR triggers include environmental factors.

It has always been and will always be, a guessing game as to the exact timing for planting of annuals. The old rule of thumb was "After the long weekend" in May. With climatic changes and new hybrids, this can be slightly sooner. However, we don't put our annuals out until mid-May. Pansies, of course, can be sooner. Tender Impatiens should even be slightly later.

Paphs purchased at orchid shows, or at commercial greenhouses, and then brought into the home should hold their flowers for at least a week, perhaps even for several weeks. If the flowers on the plant were already starting to fade, turn slightly transparent, or lose substance at the time the plant was purchased, the flowers will not last long. This can be most noticeable in the pouch, which will appear slightly wrinkled and perhaps shrunken.

A perennial garden has plants installed that are hardy to the zone in which they are planted and unlike annual gardens, do not need to be re-planted every year. Some perennials are considered 'tender' perennials and will survive only until a harsh winter kills them off. When initially installing a perennial garden it's realistic to expect a 10% loss the first year. Those perennials that survive first winter go on to mature and multiply.