I am faced again with the semi-annual debate with my wife about when to change from winter to summer annuals in our two dozen or so pots. I captured this recurring ritual in our lives in Guess What’s in My Garden! when I wrote about “The Great Debate”:

“In our house we always have the great springtime debate. How long do we hold on to the pansies and violas that we pampered over the winter? When do we bring on the summer annuals? I know the pansies will be scorched by our hot summers, but in early May they are full and still showing off. I hate to pull them out.”

Although it’s only mid April, the debate has started. I want to hold on to the annuals that are so pretty right now. Here are some of the reasons why:

Who could send these beauties to the compost pile? But my wife is thinking ahead to a planned garden party and some expected visits by friends later in the spring and early summer. She wants to get a jump start so that the summer flowers will be in long enough to achieve that lush look that she likes.

So it looks like multiple trips to the garden centers, bags and bags of potting soil, and frequent “discussions” about which particular plants will fit into our overall scheme for color in our garden. I actually have her considering such perennials as hostas, heucheras, and ajuga for her plant combinations.

And the winner in the spring debate is ……….