There is a school of thought that suggests that those human beings who have but a short time here on Earth are the ones who often burn the brightest - they bring their own charm, wit and unique way of looking at the world into our lives and, even though it is for but a short time, it is a radiance that is never forgotten.

 In the gardening world, there are similarly brightly blossoming yet short-lived creatures that we like to call annuals.

 Usually planted in the springtime, annuals flower in an amazing display of colour through the summer and early fall and then die out quickly when those first frosts of autumn or winter descend upon the South Shore.

 As such, annuals are among the most popular plants for your backyard flower garden, as they add a wonderful splash of colour and can be changed, year to year, depending on your tastes or desires.

 Your reliable seed producers, such as Veseys, provide a wide range of packets which will grow into hearty, strong and colourful annuals that will breathe vibrant life into your garden.

 Annuals need not be an eccentric or unusual variety in order to have an amazing visual impact on your garden.

 The begonia semperflorens dwarf, for instance, would make a great addition to your garden, especially in drier areas.

 Available in shades of scarlet, white and pink, these begonias are ideal whether you're just looking to frame your bed or you want to plan a more formal, stylized planting that involves a pattern.

 If you've had a head start on your gardening, and you're growing from the seed, you've probably already got a move on your petunias.

 Ideally, when growing from scratch, you want to start your petunias about eight weeks before the final frost of the spring.

 If you haven't yet begun, it's not too late to try growing from scratch this spring season.

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 And if you are taking the from-the-seed approach, once it comes time to transplant, don't forget to make sure that you're bedding your petunias in a full-sun location.

 While petunias will tolerate light shade, it will have an effect on their ability to bloom and you might not get the full and impressive results you've come to expect.

 Or, failing that, you can always shop at one of the many great gardening centres here on the South Shore to pick out a variety of petunia that suits your desires.

 The petunia is arguably the most popular annual, having garnered wide-ranging acclaim for its durability, dependability and the amazing range of colours.

 When transplanting your petunias, whether homegrown or store-bought, make sure that you don't overwater or over-fertilize, as that can have a negative effect on their growth.

 Whether you're looking at growing your own annuals from the seed, or whether you're picking up flowers that have already been started at your local garden centre and transplant-ing into your backyard scene, annuals are an ideal way to breathe fresh life into your floral landscape each and every season.

 This is but a taste of the astonishing variety of annuals that are available for gardeners new and old to tackle. For more information about growing from seed, don't forget to visit http://www.veseys.com/ca/en.

 And if you're looking for another great on-line gardening resource, one that's got a great Lunenburg County connection, don't forget to visit http://www.NSgardening.com.

 The brand-new website was launched on May 9 and was developed by local author and gardening enthusiast Bill Kowalski, in partnership with well-known community website builder David Doggett.

 The site is the ideal place for Nova Scotia's gardeners to get together on-line, ask questions, share tips, swap seed and start discussions.

posted on 05/12/09