Tired of rain, snow, gray days? 

Then plant some flowers! 

It's a stubborn year when winter won't give way to spring.  Still, there are many flowers to be planted and enjoyed in spite of the frost. 

Some are perennials--the hardiest of plants that come back year after year.  And there are also many cold-hardy annuals. 

Now is prime time to go to the nursery or garden center and see all the spring-blooming perennials.  Look them over and decide which plants you'd like to see flowering in your yard this time next year.  Then take them home and get the in the ground.  By planting them right away, they'll have a very long growing season to get established--and that will enhance their good looks next year. 

With our delayed start to spring and lingering cold temps, this would be a good year to choose annual flowers from the cold-hardy varieties.  Especially at higher elevation, there will be more threat of frost in your future.  The good news is that you can still have annual flowers.  Just chose carefully. 

Frost Hardy Annuals - withstand temps to 20 degrees or less.  Alyssum - Anemone - Cherianthus - Dianthus - Dusty Miller - Flowering Kale & Flowering Cabbage - Pansies - Perennials - Ranunculus - Snapdragons - Statice - Verbena rigida - Viola.

Frost Tolerant Annuals - withstand temps down to 20 degrees.  Calendula - Nicotiana - Petunias - Phlox (Annual) - Salvia Victoria - Salvia greggii - Stocks - Verbena canadensis.

Half-Hardy Annuals - tolerate very cold temps, but no direct frost.  Ageratum - Asters - Gazania - Geraniums - Lobelia - Verbena (Upright).  These plants need to be covered to be protected from frost.  Use cloth rather than plastic as plastic will attract the frost to any part of the plant it touches.