I've been eying the pretty blooms of snapdragons (scientific name of Antirrhinum) at all of the Farmer's Market flower booths. Native to the Mediterranean, the common name is taken from the fact that the flower's head resembles the face of a dragon snapping its jaw open and closed. There are a variety of species and the garden plant can grow in many colors. Snapdragons grow year round in full or partial sun and are available in a range of heights - they can grow to be 6-48 inches and have a lengthy blooming period.

Their dramatic spikes are a fantastic addition to any floral arrangement. When planting, space flowers apart to allow air circulation and avoid wetting the leaves when watering. Cut back snapdragons in hottest weather, monitoring the soil moisture to promote new growth when cooler weather returns. Snapdragons are beautiful in flower borders and paired with petunias and geraniums.