Last year was probably the best year so far in gardening here at our little mobile home. I’ve been working hard to put in perennials so I have less in-ground work to do each year, and there are finally some areas that have filled in to where they look like the kind of busy, “overstuffed” borders I’ve been dreaming of.
I do still have fun with annuals, though, filling a variety of containers each year.
In 2025, the only annuals I did in-ground were the zinnias, Four o’clocks, and sunflowers, which I plant every year from seed. Honestly I don’t think I’ll EVER stop growing these – they’re just too easy, too beautiful, and too much fun!
One of the reasons I like gardening in Iowa (I’m Zone 5b) is because we have four seasons, and one of those is an “off-season.” That means we get a break from about about November through February, where we’re not actively working in the garden. It’s a nice mental and physical break that always seems to come just as I am losing momentum, motivation, and interest. And then, by the end of February, I’m itching to get started again – somehow it just always seems to work out!
For early Spring color, I’ve found it’s hard to beat pansies and violas. I don’t have the indoor space to start these from seed, but it seems like the garden center at Lowe’s starts carrying them just as I’m itching to get back outside. I loved these pansy combinations from last year, and because they are so long-lasting I was able to move them around to several different containers until well into June:
And, these happy yellow violas are a refreshing pop of early color!
And this year, for EARLY early color, I’m expecting crocus and daffodils for the first time because I did plant some bulbs last Fall. I’m anxious to see them come up!
There will also be Bachelors Buttons – these tend to self-seed, but I also add new seed every year. I’ve also learned that my perennial clematis is an early Spring bloomer.
By May, some of the perennials will be blooming such as the creeping phlox, iris, and peonies.
There are also several summer favorites, including coreopsis, salvia, echinacea (coneflower), wild geranium, hostas, and garden phlox. I’ll save those for another post, and I’ll also try to do a post about specific plans for what I’m hoping to achieve this year. But for now, suffice to say I’m looking forward to another year of gardening!
How about you – what are your favorite annuals to use in containers, and do you have a favorite perennial that seems to successfully fill in your flower beds each year? Tell me in the comments!
