Annual Flowers

• Easy-to-grow zinnias come in many shapes and colors.zinnia image by maslight from Fotolia.com
  
  Annuals produce showy growth over one season, and most can be grown in all USDA climate zones. For full sun (6 hours or more daily) areas, plant easy-to-grow sun-loving annual flowers including zinnias, nasturtium, sunflower, sweet alyssum, four-o'clocks, marigolds, petunias, annual baby's breath, snapdragons, cornflowers and moss rose. In shade to part shade (four hours or less daily), plant violas, impatients or begonias.
  
  Many of these can be easily grown from seed or are available from your local nursery in starter pots. Consult seed packages or labels for planting and other information.
  
  

Perennial Shrubs and Flowers

• Perennials in a bed in the lawn.cottage garden 1. image by mdb from Fotolia.com
  
  Perennial plants and shrubs stay in place permanently, so get to know your garden's USDA climate zone and soil pH, and site plants according to their size at maturity. Easy-to-grow sun-lovers include echinaccea, yarrow, daylilies, perennial coreopsis, perennial baby's breath, cheddar pinks, chrysanthemums in several varieties, butterfly bush, bee balm and rudbeckia. Roses, especially miniature roses, can be easily grown when planted properly and fed and watered sufficiently throughout the season.
  
  For part shade to shade, plant columbine, hostas, pasque flower and Lenten Rose.
  
  New gardeners should avoid plants that may become invasive, such as English ivy, many in the mint family and some honeysuckles. Consult your local nursery or garden center for information.
  
  

Vegetable Garden

• Even youngsters can succeed with a vegetable garden.boy with fresh carrots in vegetable garden image by Renata Osinska from Fotolia.com
  
  Tomatoes -- especially cherry tomatoes -- peppers of all kinds, summer squashes including zucchini, Egyptian onions, green beans, Swiss chard, carrots and cucumbers are all sun-loving and easy for new gardeners to grow. In part shade, grow spinach and lettuce. For all these, start seeds or plant nursery plants outdoors after last frosts. Plant lettuce seeds every three weeks through the season, and enjoy the many varieties in fresh mixed salads all season long. Consult seed packets and labels for information.
  
  

The Herb Garden

• An herb garden can be easy and rewarding.herb garden image by Steve Lovegrove from Fotolia.com
  
  Chives, common sage, rosemary, oregano and the many varieties of thyme are all sun-loving and can be easily grown. These perennial herbs are the foundation of the culinary herb garden. Annuals are cilantro, dill, sweet marjoram and basil. Parsley is a biennial herb, beginning growth one year and flowering and seeding the next year before dying. All these prefer full sun but may tolerate some late afternoon shade.
  
  You may grow perennial herbs among flowers or vegetables with the same sun and climate zone requirements. Start herbs from seeds or nursery plants; seed packets and labels will have detailed planting information.