Everybody likes to be able to plant something that will survive the winter and come back every year. Those plants are called perennials. Annuals are plants that you generally have to replace each year.  

A few annuals include petunias, vincas, snapdragons, marigolds, and dusty millers. They are usually less expensive, also easy to find and easy to plant. I like to plant them in pots and beds next to my roses. If you use annuals you can change your beds and pots every spring and give your garden a new fresh look.  

Pollinator friendly perennials are great to add to your garden. They come back every year and attract hummingbirds, butterflies, dragonflies and bees. Pollinators are a great addition to your vegetable gardens because they increase the fertilization of your plants. Some examples of pollinator friendly perennials are Gaura (named a Louisiana Super Plant for 2025 by LSU Ag Center) Butterfly Bush, Asclepias or Milkweed, Salvia, and Monarda.  

I like to add something every year that I haven’t grown before as an experiment. This year I am adding Yarrow as a new plant that I haven’t tried before. I have found many of my favorite plants this way and I’ve also had some that weren’t so successful. Try your hand at mixing perennials and annuals and you won’t be disappointed. Happy Growing!

(Mitzi Thomas owns Minden Farm & Garden LLC. Watch for her column on Fridays in Webster Parish Journal.)