A beautiful and popular feature of the countryside, the Flanders Poppy, or Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), is an annual wildflower known for its stunning, vibrant red flowers. They stand atop long, hairy stems, accompanied by pinnately lobed, cut or toothed, and hairy leaves. These delicate flowers showcase four rounded, overlapping, papery petals, typically in brilliant scarlet-red shades but also in pink or white, often displaying a dark basal blotch. Blooming from late spring to early summer, the flowers are followed by ornamental seedpods, extending the season of interest for this captivating plant.

With its abundance of bright yellow, daisy-like flowers and reddish-brown center disks, Coreopsis tinctoria (Tickseed) is a fast-growing annual that adds prairie charm to any sunny garden. Blooming from early summer to fall, each blossom features 7-9 yellow rays that are notch-tipped and spotted reddish-brown at the base. Native to the western U.S., this Coreopsis is also perfect for wildflower gardens and thrives in summer heat and humidity.

Orlaya grandiflora, also known as White Lace Flower, is a delightful hardy annual plant that brings delicate airiness to summer borders and fresh bouquets. This lovely plant features abundant, large, flat-topped umbels consisting of sparkling white flowers that float above lush, finely divided foliage. With its small central florets elegantly encircled by a ring of larger ones, it resembles lace-cap hydrangeas and gracefully blends with other plants, adding unmatched elegance. Orlaya grandiflora blooms over an extended flowering period, from early summer until frost, and has a compact, bushy habit, making it an excellent choice for small gardens.

Providing a cheerful display, Oriental Poppy 'Marlene' (Papaver orientale) features large, crepe papery, cup-shaped, purplish-red flowers with dark purple eyes and black splotches at their base. Planted in small groups, its bold blossoms will give a color punch to your borders and draw attention from late spring to early summer! Growing in clumps up to 30 in. tall (75 cm) and spreading 18-20 in. (45-50 cm), the flowers rise on long stalks clad with thistle-like, silvery-green leaves that fade soon after blooming.

Adding drama to the landscape, Verbascum olympicum (Olympic Mullein) is a short-lived perennial that forms a tall and spectacular candelabra of flowering spikes, smothered with golden-yellow blossoms, 1 in. across (2.5 cm). Blooming in succession over a long period extending from early to late summer, the flower stalks rise majestically from a low-growing, wide rosette of silvery-gray, felted, semi-evergreen leaves, which can reach 1 foot long (30 cm). Easy to please, this hardy perennial is regarded as one of the most desirable of the genus.