MVP’s of 2025

It’s the end of the season, everything‘s winding down. Today I’m looking back with sentimental reflection about the flowers that really shined this year. I’m gonna tell ya about my top 3… my MVP’s of 2025.

First up is strawflowers. I really appreciate how prolific and easy they were to manage. Before this year, I was unsuccessful at germinating them; they did not make it beyond the tray because I covered them with starter mix when they need light to germinate. I was able to successfully germinate them in February and they did beautifully once put in the ground in March. They were not transplanted into any kind of weed barrier on the row, and they busted out so thick and full that they really did a good job suppressing their own weeds. They bloomed during the time where I needed flowers in a “gap period”, and they bloomed for a long time as well (June-July). You didn’t have to pick them at some delicate, pinpointed, precise time. Once the neck hardens on them (do the wiggle test, like a zinnia) it seems you can pick them when they’re fully open or pick them when they were still a little bit closed. I would classify them as a cut-and-come again, because they gave secondary shoots; some were more branching than others. In retrospect, I may have not “pinched” as I should have initially? But I did make deep cuts and had secondary growth and blooms. The color varieties are beautiful, and the seeds aren’t that expensive. This will be a no brainer for next year, and I’ve already planned to grow more color. Specifically planning on a patch of cranberry colored strawflowers for drying to use in Christmas work.

Next up is cosmos. I really appreciate that the Cosmo is almost a full season flower for me. We’re a little bit cooler than my friends and family that live 30-40 minutes away in down in the valley. I have a hard time getting Zinnias to do much until after school start back up here in August. I don’t even try to plant them earlier cause I just don’t do good. BUT, the Cosmo seems to thrive in the early spring AND the late summer. It’s September and they are still out there doing their thing. I do recommend planting in successions because they do get tired. I love the Double Click series; very prolific, long stems and just very giving. As far as new varieties, I really loved the fairy like iridescence of the Appricotta Cosmos. There is nothing better than the airy whimsy of a cosmo floating above the bulkier flowers in a bouquet. I do need to do a better job with succession, and I’m going to dedicate a whole row to Cosmos in 2026. I plan to plant into the the biofilm 360 (biodegradable weed barrier), but experiment with direct sowing into small holes instead of transplanting (to cut down on labor and the extra supplies / dirt to start in trays). I’ve observed they do get bigger if you give them a little bit of space and they can be very branching if you give them room and pinch. I’m considering planting a much shorter plant, Dusty miller, underneath. It’s an experiment in maximizing my space.

And I have saved the best for last… the foxglove. Foxglove, you were so rugged. You did not need much covering during winter, and actually seemed to put on growth in the cold. The foxglove that did overwinter actually look Better than the ones that didn’t. Now it’s September, and I still see random flowers bloom, although shorter than the first. I would totally grow foxglove again. Most of them look like they may perennialize. I love that cottage feel they give to the bouquet. I didn’t have any trouble with germination. They were planted in weed barrier, but the way they fluffed out led to little weed pressure. Foxglove gets the number one spot on my list because I’m all about something that is beautiful, easy, hardy, and will bloom again next year.

What’s your garden MVP? Or let me know if you have any favorite varieties of the these flowers mentioned.