Several weeks ago I talked about some new annuals I though worth investigating. I have a few more to add to the list.

Ball keeps adding new lines to it's "Ride the Waveª" petunia phenomenon. Several years ago, Purple Waveª, bred by a Japanese beer maker, revolutionized the petunia market. Its vigorous, trailing, ground-hugging habit made it a favorite for landscapers and home gardeners. The effort Ball spent advertising it didn't hurt either.

Next came the Tidal Wavesª, a taller hedge-type petunia just as vigorous, but almost 2 feet tall. The Easy Wavesª followed. More similar to the original animal, but slightly taller and not quite as vigorously spreading. This year the Shock Wavesª, a small-flowered type, geared for hanging baskets and containers, joins the family. All of these are F1 hybrids, sown from seed. All come in various shades of pink, purple and white.

Several companies have tried to answer the success of the Waves with vegetative trailing varieties. In my humble opinion, from what I've seen at the Landisville trials, the Supertunias from Proven Winners give them some good competition. Both on the strength of their performance and their marketing campaigns.

Someone slap my wrist.

Harkening back to my science fair days when I grew marigolds up in my bathroom under Gro-Lights, I've always loved these tough, sunny bloomers. Whether grown in milk cartons by kindergardeners, planted at the edge of a vegetable garden to deter rabbits or at home in the flower beds, I think they're great.

Often overlooked because they are somewhat pedestrian, a perusal of a seed catalogue detailing the French, African, Anemone and Xanthophyll-rich types (to feed to chickens to improve skin color) will make your head spin.

When my dad was first starting in the greenhouse business, a white marigold was highly desired. Now we've been through several permutations, 'Sweet Cream' and now 'Vanilla' make great African, large-headed, white choices.

Last fall people came in looking for marigolds when I wanted them to be looking for mums. The oranges, yellows and reds make great fall color additions, and since they bloom up to frost, marigolds planted in the spring still looked great in September and October.

Both marigolds and petunias are worth a second look this spring on your trip to the garden center. Long-blooming and garden-tough. they won't disappoint.