Beginning gardeners, as well as seasoned ones, can rely the diversity and magic of easy-to-grow annuals. These are plants that perform non-stop as they pursue a short but spectacular life cycle. Whether started from seed or as young plants bought at a nursery, annuals rapidly produce an abundance of color and texture that lasts throughout the summer, succumbing only to frost. Just about every garden can benefit from careful placement of the right annual. They are perfect for creating colorful containers, supplying cut flowers for arrangements, attracting butterflies, or adding pizzazz when tucked among perennials. And their flowers really pop when placed near plants that offers a good green background, such as a small evergreen. In spring, local nurseries display tempting masses of annuals, many of them in bloom. If your garden, like mine, is limited by space, you can't include them all. You must make some decisions based upon your growing conditions, as well as the plants' color, texture, ultimate size and even fragrance. Be prepared to spend some time at the nursery carefully selecting the best plants. Even though you are drawn to the colorful blooms of large, mature plants, it is best to select ones that are more compact, with unopened and small, developing buds. These plants will transplant more readily, because they won't be stressed by the need to maintain their blossoms while acclimating to your garden. Avoid plants that look wilted or have roots emerging from the bottom of their containers. These plants may have been neglected, or simply outgrown their pots. In either case, they are unlikely to bounce back fast when you move them into your garden. It is best to transplant annuals on the day they are purchased. If you must wait to plant, do not place them in sunlight. Keep the plants in a bright, protected area and be sure they don't dry out. To ensure success with your selections, read the guidelines on the seed packet or plant tag carefully. Annuals are tender plants that are devastated by frost. In our area, planting before late May is risky. Gardeners who start sooner should be prepared to cover young plants if a late frost is forecast. Some annuals, including ageratum, coleus, impatiens and petunia, are best purchased as young bedding plants. Others, like alyssum, marigold, morning glory, nasturtium and zinnia, can be sown as seed directly where you want them to grow. If you want your garden to be a little different this year, try angelonia, calendula, lobelia, melampodium or torenia. Most are available at garden centers or nurseries. Many annuals can be seen growing in the Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens near the Penn State Cooperative Extension office on Donohoe Road. The gardens are open to the public, and annuals in the demonstration beds are labeled. Gardeners can stop by during the spring and summer months to see what the plants look like and how they perform. Whatever your needs or interests, there is likely to be an annual flower that will perform admirably. In addition, these one-year-only plants give you the option of creating a new look every spring. Al Sanfilippo is a Master Gardener with the Westmoreland County office of Penn State Cooperative Extension. For more information about this topic, or about the Master Gardener program, call the extension office at 724-837-1402.

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