What Are the Flowers for April and October?

Calendula

• Growing and germinating best in cool weather, calendulas should be started indoors in late winter for blossoms in April. They will continue to flower lightly throughout the hot summer months, as long as you remove the spent flower heads regularly. When cool autumn weather arrives in October, they will put out a new flush of bloom until killed by frost.

Snapdragons

• Sow seeds of snapdragons in late winter for blossoms in the cool weather of spring or purchase transplants at the appropriate time. Plant them in partial shade where they will get full sun for a few hours each day. Snapdragons require well-drained soil, as they are sensitive to root rot. Improve the soil with the addition of peat moss, pine bark and finished compost to lighten it and provide better drainage. Fertilize the soil prior to planting, using a balanced, complete fertilizer like 10-10-10. Provide snapdragons with at least the equivalent of 1 inch of rainfall per week.

Pansies

• Widely popular for spring blooms, pansies (Viola x wittrockiana) prefer the cool days and nights of early to mid-spring, including April in many latitudes. They come in a wide array of multi-hued blossoms, including white, yellow, red, purple, pink and blue. The markings on their three main petals resemble a face. When warmer summer weather arrives, cut them back to about half their height, keep them well-watered and provide them with shade from the hot summer sun. They will begin blooming again when cool fall weather arrives.