Oh my goodness! Fall is the best time to plant! Much of the stuff you plant on the east coast in the spring - does really well in our winter. Pansies, violets, petunias, snapdraggons, garden mums, stock, carnations - to name a few. Just go to Lowes, Mesquite Valley Growers, Home Depot and you'll see massive bounties! Pansies and violets are a little shy, so they need a bit of shade. The snapdraggons really take off, so they need some support. Carnations, too, they will flop around. And, you will see interesting things that you never thought of at Mesquite Valley Growers which, if sensitive, you can put in pots. And sow wildflower seeds - and plant bulbs! Have fun - and good luck!

You can access a planting schedule for annual flowers on the University of Arizona web site. It will show you when to plant from seeds or transplants as well as how long to expect blooming to last. This is a pdf document and may take a few minutes to load.

Here is a link that might be useful: Flower Planting Guide for the Low Desert

I use the "Flower Planting Guide for the Low Desert" a lot, as it has great information. I use geraniums for their color, and if kept in shade will summer over. Another favorite is Cyclamen, they do great in winter but protect from a freeze. Quickly forgetting why they call it "Awful August" when we and our plants are so cranky!