Front row: Purplish blue cerinthe and darker purple love-in-a-mist surround phlox.

Second row: White cosmos are flanked by chartreuse bells-of-Ireland backed by white Ammi majus, sometimes called bishop's lace.

Third row: Zinnias grow on either side of salvia in blue, rose, and white.

Fourth row: Deep red love-lies-bleeding (left) and cherry pink cleome (right) flank cosmos in pink and rose shades.

Rear: Sunflowers grow in the back, with strawflowers at far ends.

First to bloom are love-in-a-mist and Ammi majus; they'll be cut and gone before other flowers. As summer annuals decline, pull them out and sow spring-blooming annuals like larkspur (Consolida ajacis) and cornflower (Centaurea cyanus).

DESIGN: Beth Benjamin.