They’re so whimsical, they almost look like something from a Dr. Seuss story.

Those are alliums — pollinator-friendly, deer-resistant ornamentals that add height and drama to a flower garden.

Forget-me-nots thrive in cool, misty climates — not exactly the picture of Los Angeles in August.

But it’s possible to cultivate these charming blossoms in a warm environment, even inland in SoCal.

Did you know the vibrant “geraniums” that fill garden beds across Southern California aren’t geraniums at all? They belong to another genus.

They thrive in sunny climates and bloom for months in SoCal. In mild, frost-free areas, they can be grown as perennials.