Annuals in all Four Directions

Each side of a house - North, South, East and West - has some special opportunities to let annual flowers shine. Each facing of a home calls for varied garden possibilities due to the different mini-climates.

North - This is the shadiest, coolest side of a home. It is also the place to let the shade tolerant plants and flowers that prefer cooler climates perform their magic and be displayed to their best advantage.

One of the best annuals for a north facing garden has to be impatiens. These vigorous beauties come in many colors and put on a beautiful show in beds, baskets, tubs or other containers. Both fibrous and tuberous begonias and caladiums are at home equally in shady or partial sun locations. If in a sunny area, ensure adequate moisture! Coleus is a premier summer plant for shady locations, with bright, vibrant colors forming mounds of color all summer long. A trailing lobelia is a nice edging plant for both the North and East gardens.

East - with morning sun and afternoon shade, this area needs flowers which stand out in high light conditions but need some protection from the blazing afternoon sun. Impatiens and fibrous begonias do as well in this situation as they do for the north side. Nicotiana, an old favorite, has seen a significant revival with the introduction of shorter plants available in pink, red, rose, white and creamy yellow which are also tidy in the garden.

South - in full sun, unless shaded by trees or shrubs, this side of a home or other building takes a beating from the heat. Remember that heat absorption at foundations or against walls and fences is so strong that plantings of even heat-loving plants should be held away from the unshaded background by 18 inches or more.

Salvia is a bright choice for a vertical accent in the garden and are available in orange, red, a blue-violet and a creamy white, all striking. Four o'clocks won't bloom until dusk but the pretty foliage and height make them a nice background for the taller salvias. Marigolds, in their infinite variety of sunny colors, are among the best. Available in a variety of flower forms, sizes and plant heights, they do well in all areas of the border.

No garden would be complete without geraniums and petunias to soak up the sun. These rugged plants are blessed with a wide range of colors, flower types and plant habit. Red geraniums are still the most popular by far, but salmon, white, magenta, and pale pinks are versatile, cool and will blend in well with existing shrubs and perennials. Petunias are available in every flower hue and you can choose cascading types, stripes, ruffles, large blooms and small. All can be worked into the flower border, as an accent in a large tub, or a hanging basket. Edging plants such as ageratum or alyssum are good. Available in shades of blue, lavender, and white they help tie together the annual border.

West - heat build-up is the most intense in western exposures. Although the sun has passed its zenith by the time its full force strikes the west side of a building, bright sun is coupled with maximum temperatures (4 p.m. usually brings the daily maximum summer temperature)...so the heat can be intense.

Choose rugged flowers for the most exposed situations. One of the best is vinca (annual periwinkle). These tough but pretty plants are available in shades of white, pink, and magenta and are prolific in adverse conditions. They soak up heat, and are virtually impervious to insects, pollution or disease. Another heat tolerant plant is portulaca. Heat and poor soil are its favorite conditions and it comes in a double as well as single form. Gazanias are rapidly growing in popularity, thanks to their sun-loving ways and the new varieties which have expanded their flowering power. The tones of yellow through orange to mahogany make them a good mix with geraniums, marigolds, and portulaca.

You can best determine what grows best in each part of your garden by simply experimenting with different plantings and flower combinations. Anyway, half the fun of gardening is in the trying of new things.