Heirloom and Heritage in the Garden

Growing Old-Fashioned Annuals

By Teri Brown

Perennials may form the backbone of the garden, but annuals provide the splash, the color – and because you get to move them around every year – the creativity. Donna Dawson, master gardener, garden tour host and owner of the comprehensive garden site, ICanGarden.com, loves old-fashioned annuals for their versatility and beauty. "My garden would not be the same without having the scent of annuals running through it," says Dawson. "I think that is part of the gardening experience. Every gardening season we get a chance to change our annual selection to find the best for us."

Because of their transitory nature, annuals generally only last for a season or two, unless they are the type to re-seed themselves. The definition of an annual is a plant that grows, produces seeds and dies within one year. Therefore, buying and planting a flat or two of annuals, or sowing a fresh batch of seeds, becomes one of the rites of spring. "My perennial garden is always there," says Dawson. "But with annuals you get a chance to try different ones, situate them in different places or try them in pots and hanging baskets."

Whether you call them old-fashioned, heirloom or antique, certain annuals play a part in our garden history. Many old-fashioned annuals were brought over from another land and established here by way of families who brought a packet of cherished seeds with them to start their favorite annuals in the new country. "These are plants that our ancestors grew for food, health or healing," says Dawson. "They continue to remind us of seasons past and by growing them, we preserve this history and sometimes even create our own sense of history."

One of the most wonderful things about annuals is their versatility: annuals mix well with perennials and ornamental shrubs, they look great in hanging baskets, and annual vines can add a vertical dimension to your garden. The annual, sweet pea, is one such vine, evoking memories

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