Columbines. Not only are they gorgeous, but they breed like Viagra-influenced rabbits and rather indiscriminately at that. You can have fourteen different shades over three generations. I started out planting the seeds of a dark purple volunteer from a far part of the yard, and the second generation was a soft pink. The next generation after that was almost white. It’s like getting a surprise gift every year!
I grow these and a few other cultivars plus several heliconia. When one of my customers are having guests over for the holidays I leave them a few dozen on the door step. Some of the blooms are over two feet long.
It makes an impression.
I like roses, especially the really huge ones and the really small ones. I also am fond of honeysuckle, carnations, and orchids, but tulips are my absolute favorite. Any color, any amount. Roses are second, and I prefer them in pure white, yellow, or really red.
Lavender and Trillium.
Tulips ands Frangiapani in full bloom, especially the smell.
Ahh, we have them growing on our fence too.
For the tulip fans, there’s a HUGE tulip garden in Baltimore.
Here’s someone’s personal webpage that sort of gives a scope of it.
The pictures aren’t great, HOWEVER, scroll 12 pictures down. If anyone ever asked me what a typical Baltimore woman looks like, I’d show 'em that woman in the background with the green shirt on.
Holy cow, lieu. Those things are amazing.
I don’t have any sense of smell, so I can’t comment on that, but I think pale pink roses are the prettiest.
Daisies and daffodils!
Flame lillies.
They’re just so pretty.
The extremely rare Oconee Bell.
Close second is Yellow Jasmine. Vines are allowed, right?
wild purple violets
Once when I was 28, a man who was 70 bought me a bouquet of violets on the street in Copenhagen. I saw him off on the train at the end of the day and never saw him again. Now that I am 62, he has become quite handsome in my memory.
Peonies, because they’re so lush and vibrant. Also because they’re only around for a short while, but worth it.
Poppies because they are bold and delicate at the same time.
Gladioli.
Forced bulbs in the wintertime, especially amaryllis (BAM!) and paperwhite narcissus because they smell of spring.
Snapdragons because they just seem friendly to me.
A climbing rose covered with scarlet blossoms.
Wisteria is becoming a new favorite.
Good ol’ Zinnias and Marigolds because they’re down-to-earth yet beautiful. Kind of the Mary Ann of flowers.
Naked ladies (magic lillies) beause they’re fun.
Passionflowers.
Stargazers and related asiatic lillies.
The wild roses and wild sweet peas that grow beside our road.
Lilacs.
I guess I’m having trouble narrowing it down.
forget-me-nots
Although daffodils are a close second and the deep violet lobelia a close third.
AugestWest , I loved your post. Never narrow it down, always take time to stop and smell the flowers.
I’d have to say my favorites are orchids, 100’s of varieties, gorgeous colors and they all look like they were caught in evolution, part plant, part animal.
Pansies (especially purple ones) and then Irises. I do love purple flowers.
Snapdragons are a homey touch, aren’t they? I agree about zinnias too, I love them because they are so simple, and come with such variety. You can pick new bouquets each week and never have the same look twice. They are also really nice to look at in a garden, because of their variation and color. Marigolds are ok, but they are stinky. (I mean the “common” kind that is called marigold here in the U.S. not thiskind.) They’re good for keeping grasshoppers out of your tomatoes though.