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* Prepackaged cans, sometimes called "shaker mixes," are available at garden centres, from mail-order seed companies and on the Internet. The mixes come with a wide variety of wildflowers and an inert filler that helps to spread the seeds evenly. The different types of flowers are listed on the label, so you know exactly what you're planting.

* Seed mixes are also sold in bulk, usually by the pound.

* You can purchase wildflower seeds in individual packages and create your own mix. County extension agencies are an excellent resource for information about the types of wildflowers that grow in your region.

* A great choice for a small area is a wildflower mat. The seeds are woven into a biodegradable blanket that you place on the ground, cover with soil and water.

* There are some flowers that are included in several mixes because they're attractive and hardy in many regions.

* Purple coneflower is native to the eastern United States and is hardy in Zones 3-8. This long-lived perennial grows to three feet tall and blooms in early to mid-summer.

* The daisylike coreopsis grows wild along roadsides and in grassy fields in temperate zones. It grows one to two feet tall and blooms in mid-summer. This flower grows well in dry, sandy soils.

* California poppy is seen in open, dry grasslands along the Pacific coast. The bright, cup-shaped flowers bloom in early summer.

* If your wildflower mix doesn't contain any inert material, mix in a filler of vermiculite or sand before you sow the seeds. The seeds are hard to see on the soil and the filler helps to identify where the seeds have landed. The recommended ratio is 1 part seed to 4 parts filler.

-- Courtesy of Chris Dawson, host of HGTV's "The Seasoned Gardener."