This was my first experience with self-seeding annuals and I've included a few in my gardens ever since. Some people may not like the untamed look of plants growing out of the stones in the pathway or a stray cleome coming out of the middle of a shrub--but I think it adds a certain charm. One way to make sure you always have a few volunteers the next year from a favorite annual, is to not be quite as zealous at deadheading the spent flower heads. You can also delegate one plant as the "mother" plant and let it go to seed while you fastidiously groom the others around it.

If you are just starting your garden and wonder which annuals seeds to order, look for the HA (hardy annual) designation in their description. This means they are made of tougher stuff then tender annuals. They will bloom in cooler weather and should even survive a frost or two. Many annual seeds actually thrive better here in the north where they get the proper conditions they need to germinate. Autumn, after the first killing frost, is the optimum time to sow these hardy annuals.

Here are some of my favorite self-seeding annuals:

• Cleome--One of the best self-seeders. Large pink, white, rose or purple flower heads on 3-4 foot high plants. Very architectural.
• Johnny jump-ups--an old-fashioned, small, pansy-like blossom. A cheerful little flower that pops up all over the garden, but never seems to intrude on your other plants.
• Feverfew--A mum relative that sometimes acts biennial, but always self-seeds. Small single or double white blossoms that dry to a lovely sepia color and make a good filler in dried flower arrangements.
• German Chamomile--We drink a lot of chamomile tea, so many years ago I planted my first patch. I liked the apple-scented foliage and small daisy-like white blossoms so much that I fully intended to set an area aside every year just for the chamomile. It had it own plans! I had chamomile not only in my chosen area, but in the paths, in the stones, pretty much all over the yard.
• Calendulas--Pot marigolds brighten up your garden beds for many years with their bright orange and yellow flowers. When all the other annual flowers have been ravaged by early frost--this annual is still going strong.

  Amaranthus caudatus Park Seed

• Love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus)--One of my favorite plants. The long, red, "rattails" cover this 3 to 4 foot plant. If you shake them you will dislodge thousands of little black seeds to share with other gardeners.
• Love-in-a-mist--Nigella is a wonderful, clear blue annual. There are also pink and white types, but its true value is the seed pods that come after the flowers. If you pick them when they have burgundy stripes, you can dry them for your winter flower arrangements. (But don't pick too many or you won't have them next year.)

Other flowers that will re-seed are: