Mothers Day in Massachusetts is the best time to put annual seeds in the ground. When the tulip bed is dropping petals, I poke a lot of cosmos seeds in around them. By the time the tulip foliage is yellow and ready to pluck out, the cosmos are well begun, and I fill in any bare spots with more seed. I keep them moist for about 10 days. Once started, cosmos need almost no water, and unless we go 2 weeks without a drop of rain, I ignore them all summer, and am rewarded with cheerful orange flowers from July until mid October. Then the children harvest the spiky seed heads for next year's crop.
Flowers (no deadheading, low water) All of these like full sun.
Cosmos; orange, red, yellow, white or pink
California poppy; orange
Small daisy style Zinnias; all the warm colors
Nicotiana; red, pink, white or lavender
Nasturtiums; orange, red, yellow, white or pink
Foliage; good color for shady spots. Last year I put a lot of red coleus in a shady bed where I usually have impatiens. Much more bang for the buck, and less watering.
Coleus; fab foliage stunning colors
Sweet potato vine; black or chartreuse
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