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Some people get a bit snobby when it comes to flowers. Perennials usually come high in the pecking order for the 'must have' plants of the moment, but when did you last hear anyone singing the praises of hardy annuals?Annuals are the unsung heroes

, with blossom opening so much later, hopefully there’s less risk of the cold weather returning and ruining the flowers, as fruit trees are most susceptible to damage at blossom time.Days are longer and brighter, but there’s still a risk of frost. I keep a close

producing a single flower per stem once a year, moth orchids produce several stems, each boasting a dozen or more exotic flowers. Yes, I know you'll find these phalaenopsis orchids everywhere now, but they offer so much more value than a bunch of cut flowers

blossom like that shown in the photograph, left, taken late April 2009.Seasons have a habit of catching-up, but to be honest I've almost forgotten what a normal year is now our weather patterns have become so unpredictable.Warmth encourages flower buds

Much of my gardening time in September is spent planning for spring colour. I'm not wishing the year away - I love autumn in all its fading glory - but now is the time to buy spring-flowering bulbs for planting over the next couple of months

, or a recent favourite, the fan flower (scaevola).But these large-flowered busy Lizzies kick many other summer bedding plants into second (or third) place. They're stunning! Find a spot they like, which is thankfully a shaded position that most other sun

that because I go for the dwarf ones - stocky, short varieties - which are perfect in pots. This one is 'Little Dorrit'; its flowers, with golden rays bursting out from a dark centre, are daintier than the giants. Seed catalogues offer varieties with double

, rather than flowers. Nothing surprising so far - many plants need to get established and fill their pots before settling down into a regular flowering routine. To get agapanthus to flower well you must almost ignore them. They need to become pot bound, so

encourages flowers to form at the base of each of these pruned shoots.I regularly hear of people whose wisteria won't flower, but my plant flowers very reliably. Perhaps growing it in a pot helps, along with correct pruning, and feeding with a high potash

It won’t be long before daffodils, tulips, fragrant hyacinths and a host of other colourful flowers signal the arrival of spring, but if we want summer and autumn to provide similar displays we have to start planning and planting now