There is a bumper sticker that says, “Friends don’t let friends plant annuals.” I will admit to subscribing to this notion — at least some part of me does. If you’re an annual-flower lover and you’re wondering why someone would think such a thought, I’ll tell you. But first, let me define an annual in the horticultural context: an annual is a plant that lives for only one growing season as opposed to a perennial, which comes back on its own year after year. I prefer perennials because they require so much less from me and many of them have impressively long blooming seasons as well as the brilliant colors annual flowers are usually known for. That said, I will acknowledge that there is a time and a place for annuals.

For Container Gardens

Containers can make a dramatic statement when placed strategically alongside a garden, near an entryway, or in prominent areas where it would otherwise be difficult to grow plants. For some gardeners, such as apartment dwellers, container gardens may be the only option. Because outdoor containers here in Colorado are regularly fraught with snow and freezing temperatures, the container gardener needs to be prepared with the right plants and the right containers. Perennials can have difficulty surviving the winter in the average pot or planter. They need the insulation and moisture that the ground affords them. Annuals negate this dilemma. You expect to replant your favorites each year anyway and many gardeners have fun doing it.

For an Area in Transition

When you know that part of your garden is going to see a makeover in the near future, planting perennials may not make sense. Yet something green and beautiful is called for. Annual plants to the rescue! They can fill in an area nicely providing season-long color and a feeling of lushness. Plant them with reckless abandon!

For Food

The vast majority of our vegetable crops are annuals. Some perennial exceptions include asparagus and rhubarb, along with fruits such as berries. Some vegetables, such as tomatoes, can be grown in containers or in traditional beds, but either way, they must be replanted each year. Great satisfaction comes with growing one’s own food. If you’ve never done it, starting with a favorite makes sense — a single tomato plant in a container or a zucchini vine amid the perennial border.

Many of the plants we call annuals are perennial somewhere in the world — somewhere with longer days and a milder climate. Either due to lack of sunlight, cold temperatures or both, these plants are unable to sustain life in our climate and perish in the fall, not to return again unless we plant them. Other annuals, though, are simply genetically programmed to survive only one season, no matter the climatic conditions. In any case, be a friend, and help teach your friends when their gardening situation call for annuals.

Eve Gilmore is a landscape designer and garden coach and owner of Gardens by Eve in Durango. You can reach her at www.gardensbyeve.buzz.town.com or at 970-769-3319.