Everyone Loves a

fan fower

It looks delicate, but this Australia native efortlessly shrugs of extreme temps and humidity, sprouting purple, periwinkle, or white fowers all summer. Let its trailing stems cascade from a container or spread as ground cover in areas with full sun to partial shade. Usually grown as an annual, fan fower requires only moderate watering during even the hottest days.

periwinkle

This tiny annual fourishes in full sun, scorching heat, and average soil and requires little watering. Plant seedlings in early summer for vibrant pink, red, or lavender blooms until frost. Try one of the trailing Mediterranean varieties in a hanging basket or in a border. While easy to grow, the plant can develop fungus, so clean up dead leaves, and don’t overwater.*

globe amaranth

No rain? No problem for this annual, which happily grows in desert-like weather. Plant it in spring and you’ll see tall pom-pom–shaped blooms in purple, pink, red, or white into fall. Bonus: Birds love it.*

mexican sunfower

This cheery annual puts out daisy-like fowers in orange, red, or yellow that bees and butterfies love. It’s easy to start from seed. If you plant a large variety, just make sure to give them space— and be prepared to stake them if they become unruly. Mexican sunfower thrives in full sun all summer long and is very droughttolerant once it gets going.*

lantana

Perfect for sunbaked spots, this no-fail butterfybaiting annual (which is a perennial in areas that don’t get frost) packs a ton of color in each cluster of tiny fowers. It comes in vivid shades of pink, orange, yellow, coral, purple, and red, and it’s often two- or three-toned. Plant it in early summer and it will bloom until frost.*

butter daisy

Gardeners love this yellow star-shaped annual as much as birds, bees, and butterfies do for good reason: All it needs is full sun and regular watering until it’s established (about six weeks), then it can survive drought. It’s also deer-resistant, making it a smart choice for fower beds in areas with a lot of wildlife.*

There’s nothing like soaking up some rays.

cockscomb

This velvety-looking annual requires hardly any attention—or water—once established as long as it’s planted in an area with full sun. Find it in a variety of shapes and a spectrum of fery shades, including gold, tangerine, scarlet, and magenta. Grow it from seed or seedlings for electric color well into the fall.

blanket fower

This perennial sprouts frilly fowers in orange, yellow, or red (or a combo of the three) from summer into fall. Dwarf varieties grow on bushy 10-to-12-inch-tall plants; bigger varieties reach 24 to 30 inches. Plant it from seed or try seedlings in beds or pots.*

phlox intensia

If you want to up the wow factor in your yard, plant this heat-loving annual. It attracts butterfies, tolerates drought, doesn’t mind humidity, and provides pretty white, pink, or purple blooms from summer until your area’s frst frost. It grows to only about a foot tall, but it spreads in the sun, making it perfect for flling in containers or fower beds.*

=* drought-tolerant

This icon IDs plants that are naturally adapted to dry, arid conditions. That means once they’re established, they can live through long periods—up to an entire season—without signifcant amounts of water.

CAT CASTLES

Who doesn’t love a good challenge?

We rounded up the DIY Network made + remade bloggers, and asked them to take on a pet project with pizzazz. Here are our favorite cool,

crafty cat castles, which will help any pet live like a king.

MAKE YOUR OWN! Get step-by-step how-tos for these projects at maderemade.com/catcastles

“CAMP MEOW” TENT

For a cat who shies away from rambunctious crowds (read: children), Lish Dorset crafted this campy, private cat tent. The avid crafter and sewing guru took her design cues from vintage-chic campground style to make a no-sew tent that opens on style to make a no-sew tent that opens on both ends, giving her pet plenty of space to both ends, giving her pet plenty of space to stretch out and enjoy the good life. stretch out and enjoy the good life.

A REAL CAT TREE

Felines love indulging their natural instinct to perch up high in the forest and survey the surroundings. For indoor cats who can only dream of the rugged outdoor-cat lifestyle, Mick Telkamp created this cat tree from branches found in his backyard. His easy project combines natural appeal with the comfort of carpeted platforms for climbing and lounging.

SNOOZE TUBES

Inspiration can come from anywhere, as Ellen Foord shows with her cat-nap pyramid. Looking for materials with a modern shape, she had an “Aha!” moment with cardboard tubes normally used for creating concrete posts. She cut the tubes, and covered them in felt, fl eece, and sisal. Now Ellen’s three family cats have a scratchfriendly snooze spot.

The fi rst natural cat food from RACHAEL RAY™ NUTRISH®. Real meat like chicken or fi sh is the #1 ingredient in these delicious recipes. There’s never any junk like poultry by-product meal, artifi cial fl avors or artifi cial preservatives. Look for these wholesome recipes where you currently shop for your family’s groceries.

Come to our second annual Blogger Block Party to check out a cat castle in person!