I am trying red cypress vine (for the one hummingbird that may fly through my yard come fall, it'll need something to feed it), butterfly weed (asclepias) and mexican sunflower (tithonia) to see if I can attract butterflies, although I think the surrounding area needs to be attractive to them also, if I am to see them. Oh, and zinnias, if I've had them it's as a pregrown prepack, I've bought seed to sow just before frost date - red spider and pinwheel, which reminds me of the profusion series. They are single blooms, butterflies are supposed to like those too. We'll see I guess!

A new one I want to try is Ptilotus "joey". Its a very cute fluffy pink cone! Pretty with purple salvia.

For OP: I agree on the lovely cosmos blooms! Personally, I couldn't stand the look of the not-in-bloom ones the following year as they towered in a weed-like fashion over everything else before blooming. I ended up doing some research and found MANY other (shorter) varieties which I have grown quite fond of: "Dwarf" Sonata & Sensations, Polidor & Bright Lights, and the mini "Cosmic" series which just keep going & going like the Energizer Bunny if kept deadheaded.

This year I am trying the "Tetra" Versailles variety in Red (the "Blush" are very nice, too), and "Ladybird" dwarfs in Yellow.

Other new-to-me: "Highlight" Zinnias & "Hot Summer" colors- both look like a Pinwheel type, but I'm not entirely sure about that for a fact...
"Magellan" zinnias & "White Wedding" (white magellans)
"Jubilee" Marigolds- in yellow, and "Inca II" in Primrose- can't wait to see these 2 in action.

Dahlias from seed- there's a TOTALLY new concept for me, as I usually buy the biggies at Home Depot in tuber form. These dwarf "Unwin" & "Victoriana" will be a treat, I think.

I'm putting flowers in the veggie patch for a change of pace, and will try some Scarlet Runner Beans, as I've heard they are fabulous in bloom.

Tithonia, Fennel, various new dill varieties, and some new Asclepias for the b-flies...

Cherry Brandy Rudbeckia- can't wait to see what this one does! I'd like to think it was perennial, but I think it's listed as A.

Oh, and groundcover Morning Glories. "Ensign" and "Flash." My garden is severely lacking in shorties, usually.

Hi there,
I will try Cosmos as well, but the orange species C. sulphureus. Both as a dwarfed cultivar in a windowbox and a tall one for an alottment/plot.
And one which is completely new to me: Dimorphotheca sinnuata. I ordered it because it was said to have great orange flowers (well, aiming for a orange-pink colour scheme in my window boxes for this season...) so I am really curious how it will perform.
And I grow Lobelia pendula, the trailing one, first time from seeds. Amazing how tiny those were.

Have a great Cosmos summer,

cheers, Lin

I bought a pack of Penny Black (Nemophila Descoidalis) just because it has always intrigued me and seeds of a sunflower called Apricot Twist.

This is my first time growing xeranthemums for my meadow area.
I've had good germination using the winter sowing method, but
I think it might be hard to transplant and grow them.

Monarda Bergamo. Love the color and different bloom pattern. They've got they're first set of true leaves and hoping they survive to adulthood...LOL.

I've also got seed for Cyress Vine and Scarlet Runner Bean for Hummingbirds. It's going to be a mega challenge to keep the deer and groundhogs from eating them.

Trying colored Sweet Alyssum in the pink-purple ranges. Also trying white varieties other than Carpet of Snow... Avalanche, Snow Crystals and one other I can't remember.

Critters ate all the Cosmos last year so I'm trying the Versailles behind Limelight Four O'Clocks (new to me and supposedly poisonous) in containers on porch steps. Trying the dwarf version in containers with other Butterfly/Hummingbird nectar plants I can somewhat protect from critters.

Datura m. Belle Blance strictly because it's supposedly poisonous and hope critters will leave it alone.

I know just about everyone but me has had them before but I direct seeded poppies in various places. I just want to see those swaying, delicate blooms once. If they get icky from the first rain it could be the first and last time I plant them...LOL. Sowed California Mission Bells, Shirley Singles & Doubles and Lauren's Grape.

Here is a link that might be useful: Monarda Bergamo

I'm growing ptilotus Joey this year. They germinated surprisingly easily, and it will be nice to do some arrangements with them for the spiky effects instead of the same old/same old.

Also trying Zahara zinnias to see if they are really an improvement on the profusions.

I'm sick to death of some of the mid-summer to fall plants and went back to a few I haven't done in years, and those are chrysanthemum carinatum and tithonia.

I always do dahlia by seed, and although I'm not growing it this year, the harlequin mix is just darling.

NewbieNJ: I *love* Datura!! They can grow to small shrub-like proportions, so keep that in mind when locating. The foliage is a beautiful blue-green, looks extremetly attractive even when the blooms are gone for the day. And the scent!!! Oh, and the really cool seedpods, too - they look some sort of Medieval torture device LOL! :0)

mxk3, I really wanted the Blackberry Swirl but only got Belle Blanche. Whatever, it shouldn't be eaten away. Maybe next year I'll try them from seed myself but some sites said they can be difficult to germinate so I just bought some starter plants. Read "smoke" treatment helps germination. Couldn't believe it turned out to be "liquid smoke" that some people use in cooking...LOL.

2 Datura will go at top corners of mailbox garden which is being expanded just because I hope to have more plants than will fit in its existing boundaries. That's if the inside germination experiment succeeds to plant adulthood and I have Cleome and Agastache Rupestris to fill in along the back border of that bed.

I was planning to put 2 in large containers at either end of the bed in front of the living room. That way they have to eat/walk through Datura and Four O'Clocks to get to Zinnia I'll have growing up through declining Larkspur.

calliope, I'm trying chrysanthemum carinatum for the first time this year. Looking forward to it!

I'm growing a few new annual grasses - trying to think off the top of my head. Something called Frosted Explosion, and also bunny tails.

Last but not least, I'm trying zinnia Queen Red Lime. I'm not even sure if I like it, lol, but sometimes you have to see things "in person" to make a decision.

I'm glad to see so many cosmos being grown. Such a beautiful plant! I've been growing them for years and would not be without them. Even though I let them go to seed, I always sow more just to make sure I'll have them!

:)
Dee

This year I am trying two varieties of ornamental peppers. The colorful fruits are as pretty as any blossum, and last longer. Al

Ooh, so am I! Trying ornamental peppers, that is! I forgot. As a matter of fact, I have to remember where I put the seeds, since I bought them separately from my other seeds and don't remember where I put them. Thanks for reminding me, Al!

:)
Dee

Nasturtiums, never grew them before. I'm doing them inside on a windowsill...
Please see this thread:- Nasturtium indoors for Details

Gave up on nasturtiums long ago. Germination was never a problem but the plants never did all that great and never bloomed for me.

Trying red flowered cypress vine this year. Germinated well but the plants took 'forever' to really get going. Once they did get their lil green butts in gear though, they truly started growing well -- 2+ inches per day (and that's despite the bizarre temp swings we've been having). Probably will just go ahead and start another thread for this but in case I forget .... anyone know if you're supposed to try deadheading this plant?

Almost tried some ornamental peppers -- saw some nice burgundy/purple plants that get purple peppers. Quite pretty. Maybe can convince the deer and other critters to try nibbling on those first for those of you growing them LOL.

Trying Gerbera this year with mixed results. However, again, with how screwy our temps have been, can't make a definitive judgement either way.

Growing some Datura from seed --- good heavens the blasted things are so SLLLOOOOOOOOW. They're only about 3 inches tall right now. Very unimpressed with growth rate, but gotta keep reminding myself that the cooler temps are probably an issue in this case too.