Annuals

The climate of Cincinnati in the Ohio Valley is variable between the humid continental and the humid subtropical where rainfall is fairly consistent and the deep freeze of the north does not have such a death grip. However the good growing conditions are less than 6 months so annuals have a lot of growing to do (Annual here does not mean annual in Melbourne or anywhere else, but are treated as such).  


At The Zoo & Botanical Garden  the annuals are donnated by growers, breeders and distributors and planted out in blocks to display and test their worth for the public. They arrive as small seedlings in spring are grown on, planted, maintained, and removed making way for the bulb plantings in autumn/fall.

Impatiens, Angelonia and varieagated Flowing Dogwood

'Sunpatiens', Coleus, Canna

Plectranthus Silver Shield, Double Zinnias

Geranium and Alocasia

Verbena, Begonia Bronze Wing and Pennistemon

In only a a few weeks between Mid May and June, warm weather (30C/87F) and many a thunderstorm the annuals are well and truly out of the blocks (along with the weeds - aghhh vines!)

Vinca in foreground, Millet 'Cats Tails' and Impatiens in background

Pennistemon

One of my faves

Canna 'blueberry sparkler' Vinca in foreground