Marigolds are a very popular flower because they reward gardeners with immense quantities of bright color and they are extremely easy to grow. Marigold colors range from near-white to vivid yellow and orange to brownish red and maroon. Marigolds flourish in most soils in sunny locations. They are frequently planted as a companion plant since the more pungent-smelling varieties are known to repel certain types of insects. Their brightly colored flowers almost appear artificial, in bold shades of reds, oranges, yellows, pinks, purples and white.
Zinnias are an all purpose annual, growing well in flower gardens or used as a border plant.
They prefer bright sun and hot temperatures, and add color late in the season. In New Jersey zinnias are very susceptible to the fungal disease powdery mildew . Lower leaves should be removed and the plants can be sprayed with an all purpose fungicide. These low growing plants provide brilliant masses of velvety color along borders and edges of sunny the garden. Often the patterns look like small smiling faces.