Today’s photos come from Hugh Locke in Shrub Oak, New York.

A rock and gravel mulch makes an effective backdrop for a few well-chosen plants.

The fragrant white trumpet-shape bloom of a datura, which is similar to the popular tropical brugmansia but has flowers that face up instead of down and can be easily grown from seed as an annual.

Big containers contain castor beans (Ricinus communis, Zone 10 or as annual), another plant easily grown from seed to produce a dramatic, tropical look. This beautiful plant is the source for castor oil, and the seeds also contain ricin, a very potent toxin. If you are worried about growing this plant due to its toxic seeds, simply cut off the flowers to prevent seeds from developing.

Colorful annuals make a great foreground in this lush, green garden.

Common garden phlox (Phlox paniculata, Zones 4–8) has got to be one of the most popular garden plants native to eastern North America, equally loved by humans and butterflies.

A tangle of ornamental tobaccos (Nicotiana species) with their beautiful pink and white, fragrant flowers.

Cleome (Cleome hassleriana, annual) is native to South America but makes a wonderful display as an annual in colder climates.

A glowing red daylily (Hemerocallis hybrid)

It is hard to beat the double tiger lily (Lilium lancifolium ‘Flore Pleno’, Zones 4–9) for sheer over-the-top flower display.

Heliotrope (Heliotropes arborescens, Zones 10–11 or as an annual). This old-fashioned annual has the common name of “cherry pie plant” because apparently some people think its fragrant flowers smell like freshly baked cherry pie. Though traditionally grown as an annual, if you bring it indoors when frost threatens, it can be overwintered to enjoy year after year.

Hugh grew this foxglove (Digitalis purpurea, Zones 4–8) from seed.

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