Oct. 7--When you're building a garden from scratch -- or in my case, almost from scratch -- it pays to go with perennials. And for 41/2 years, that's just what I've done.

Annuals? They always seemed such an extravagance. They're a cheap pickup, sure, and gorgeous, but the little heartbreakers quit on you after just a few months. Starting out, I didn't have the budget or the energy to replant that often. I was looking for something that would last.

Now, finally, my garden is established, and it's become mostly about maintenance: watering and feeding, pruning and weeding. This, frankly, can get a little tedious -- especially when the older plants fail to respond to all my loving care.

Some of my perennials are starting to show their age, fading and drooping and getting all sorts of funny spots. A few are even flirting with death. The annuals at the nursery are fresh, seductive and looking for love.

They flirt with me.

So when pruning and fertilizing and fungus treatments didn't faze my graying blue daze last weekend, I decided to kick them to the curb. The time had come to fill their high-profile spot with something that would deliver more pizzazz. Something that wouldn't fall asleep before I got home from work at night. A little garden path arm candy, if you will.

I cruised the aisles at Lowe's and finally picked up some zinnias. That's right, zinnias. Bright-orange beauties with buds just waiting to burst.

Word is these sexy flowers from Southwest love the heat, aren't much bothered by bugs and are wildly appealing to butterflies.

They won't last through a frost, I'm told, but they're worth it (at 99 cents a pop) for the zip they've brought to my step -- and my stepping stones.

I expect our fling will be brief but memorable. And I'm already fantasizing about future flowers that will take their place when they go.

Kim Franke-Folstad

Come play in The Dirt at TBO.com, Keyword: Dirt. We provide all the tools.

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