Gardeners can choose from a wide selection of cool-weather annual flowers to decorate the winter landscape.

In addition to snapdragons, stocks, cyclamen and pansies, you might also consider calendula, dianthus and alyssum.

Calendulas have a light green tongue-shaped foliage. They daisylike flowers shades of gold and yellow that warm the winter garden. They attract butterflies, and they are good cut flowers for short bouquets. Grow calendula in full sun.

Dianthus also attracts butterflies. There are several selections available, and most grow to about 8 inches tall with lavender, white, red, pink or bicolor blooms.

Plant dianthus in sunny flowers beds or in containers.

They produce a strong root system that allows them to last until June if you trim back the tops in April.

The main claim to fame for alyssum is the fragrance of its flowers. It is pleasant and potent enough to detect when you get near the garden. The plants are short, about 6 inches high, and they are covered with tiny blooms in lavender, white or pink. Use them in containers or as borders for the sunny garden.

Prepare the soil for calendula, dianthus and alyssum by incorporating 2 inches of compost and 1 cup of lawn fertilizer per 50 square feet of bed area.
