Gardening and Horticulture - What to grow?

What is a good (and easy to plant/take care of) flower that I can put in an area in the yard that gets full sun? I was also thinking of something pinkish (or maybe white) to match the flowers around the house. This is our first home, so I have never planted anything before....

What type of soil? Sand, clay, or loam? Perennial or Annual? Also, what water need?

Good Luck!

Country Gardener

What zone are you in? Sprinkler system? Desired height - how much room do you have? etc.

One of my favorites is calendula (pot marigold). It's orange, 1'+ tall, flowers all year (cal.), is almost a weed requiring very little attention. As pointed out knowing what zone your in (frosts,etc) and water availability, etc, perrenial or annual, makes a big difference in available choices.

I've found that you can't go wrong with bearded irises or oriental lillies. They both grow about 3 feet tall and are great for along walls etc., where you might want to cover foundation brick, etc. They both grow well in full sun and are very hardy plants. The irises require very little maintenance, yet in the spring months they produce beautiful large flowers.

The oriental lillies also require little effort but grow relatively tall as well. They bloom in late summer (july-August). They come in many colors, including red or pink hues.

It's probably too late to plant the irises if you want them to bloom this year (as mine are budding right now), but they really can't be beat for large showy flowers in the spring. You can plant them anytime for blooms next spring. They also multiply nicely to form a full display in a few years.

For smaller size plantings, I'd suggest something like new guinea impatiens, dahlias, gerbera daisies, petunias or pansies. They like full sun but need to be watered regularly. If given a little care (by watering and removing dead blooms), they will produce a nice season-long display.

Good luck!

nibsey