Looking for something to plant this season that has been proven to be reliable in a wide variety of growing conditions? Why not try one of the 1997 All-America Selections - this year's awards go to three flowers, an herb, and two vegetables.

Celosia cristata "Prestige Scarlet," [1] is a cockcomb type celosia with bright scarlet red flowers and a harmonious bronze green foliage. The plants reach a mature size of 15 inches when grown in full sun; and the blooms serve a dual purpose being suitable as a cut fresh flower as well as an everlasting.

Zinnia augustifolia "Crystal White" has several features that make it appealing to all of us in our desire for easy care - drought tolerance, a long season of bloom, and a higher resistance to powdery mildew. The single daisy like flowers cover the 10-inch plants.

Gypsophila muralis "Gypsy" is an annual baby's breath that thrives in full sun, yet adapts well to containers due to its smaller size. The soft airy plant, reaching only 12 inches, blooms continuously all season with quarter-inch pale pink flowers.

There are numerous varieties of basil but Thai Basil "Siam Queen" [2] is a real winner, not only for its licorice basil fragrance, but also for its attractive dark green leaves, red purple stems, and later flowering. With all of these qualities, this basil would be welcomed in the herb garden as well as in the mixed flower border.

If you desire a small, one-meal size head of cabbage, then "Dynamo" [2] fills the bill. These solid blue green heads weigh in at 2 to 2 1/2 pounds, have a small core, and keep well in the garden before splitting.

Okra "Cajun Delight" is a real improvement with its earlier yields of five inch tender green pods. Okra is an acquired taste, however the 2 to 3 foot plant itself is worth growing for the beauty of its creamy yellow hibiscus like flowers.

You can look for all of these selections in mail order catalogs and at your local garden center.