Keep your garden looking its best by choosing wind and weatherproof plants.

There’s no way to get around it. Weather is very important in the world of gardening. If springs are cooler and wetter than usual things don’t go well for gardeners. Then in the summer we have to contend with heat and drought. What’s a gardener to do? Choose rain-resistant, wind or weatherproof plants.

Rain can be hard on some flowers. Yet a number of weather-tolerant petunias are available. My favorite is the Prism Sunshine petunia, an earlier All-America Selections (AAS) winner. This long-flowering plant gives excellent all-weather performance.

From the name Storm, you’ll realize the Storm petunia is unbothered whatever the weather may bring. Storm will spring right back after the worst rains.

Peach Morn petunia has large rain-resistant blooms. The plants are compact. Put these gorgeous blooms in the spotlight by planting them beside purple-leaved or silver foliage plants.

Ultra Star petunias are a rain-resistant hybrid. These early blooming plants are bicolored, blue and white with white centers. The compact plants are disease-resistant.

The distinctive, Wave petunias are excellent varieties. These are available in various colors. With exceptional weather tolerance, these are suited for pots and hanging baskets. They can also be used in flower beds.

Even the Cirrus dusty miller is rain-resistant. Despite wet weather it will retain its beautiful silver color much longer than other varieties. It grows to about eight inches tall.

For those uncertain springs when we aren’t sure what the weather is going to be like Vinca Stardust Orchid comes to the rescue. This one is also an AAS winner. It tolerates both wet and cool growing conditions. The bright orchid petals are dusted with white. Towards the center the bloom is almost pure white.

The Nymph sages (Salvia) can tolerate extreme weather conditions. These lovely plants have bicolor blooms of salmon and white.

Summers can be hot and dry in many areas of the U.S. So choosing plants that are tolerant of those conditions is a good idea. Annuals that withstand considerable drought include moss rose, Mexican sunflower (Tithonia), globe amaranth (Gomphrema), and Passion Mix osteospermum. Passion Mix also received an AAS award. These blue-eyed daisies, 2½” wide, are in various shades of white, pink, rose, and white.