This was such a joyful read! The pansies I planted earlier this year still haven’t become much, so I’m planning to fall sow more. I love how dainty and colorful they are. Also, I downloaded The English Garden so fast when you mentioned it’s available on Libby!! Thank you for that tip!
I've always loved pansies. Their old-fashionedness is part of their appeal for me but I agree, that kaleidoscope of color at the garden center is unappealing. I'm glad you've joined the party!
P.S. Belle Epoque tulips, and maybe tulips in general, are on my sh*t list. I got so tired of shelling out money for these fancy annuals. The ones that do naturalize in my garden all get that weird disease that makes their leaves ugly. And the last time I planted tulips, only 2 came up. So, for now, I'm done trying to grow them.
Oh no, I had no idea! I can't even get my tulips to bloom, so I can't imagine having them bloom only to get disease. Ugh, Belle Epoque tulips are beautiful though.
I never knew pansies could have long stems! You've totally piqued my interest. Sarah Raven had a podcast episode earlier this spring about species tulips and how they're more resistant than cultivated tulips are to fungal diseases and other side effects of wetter winters and springs. They're smaller and daintier, but I bet they'd look great with violas and pansies! https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/species-tulips-and-why-you-should-grow-them-with/id1550764907?i=1000703863673 PS- Thanks for that Libby tip!!
Thank you! Maybe I'd have better luck with species tulips. And I think that some pansies are supposed to have longer stems--I'm surprised with how long the stems are on Antique Shades, and I'm just growing them in pots, so in the ground I bet they're even better.
Maybe it is the year of the pansy! I always thought I hated them but I realized this year I just hate the giant short floppy ones and then fell in love with the Brushstrokes Viola and off I went down the rabbit hole. I LOVE those Antique Laeta ones - and your planter with all of them stuffed in looks so charming. Thanks for the book recommendation! :)
Thanks, Alison, and glad we're on the same page! I definitely used to turn my nose up at them, too, ha ha. I love the brushstrokes! Maybe I need to grow those next year.
This was such a joyful read! The pansies I planted earlier this year still haven’t become much, so I’m planning to fall sow more. I love how dainty and colorful they are. Also, I downloaded The English Garden so fast when you mentioned it’s available on Libby!! Thank you for that tip!
Thanks, Kasannah! Aww, hope your pansies can catch up, but, yeah, supposedly you can sow them at any time of year? Another great thing about them!
And there are so many amazing gardening magazines on the Libby app. Gardens Illustrated is another favorite.
I've always loved pansies. Their old-fashionedness is part of their appeal for me but I agree, that kaleidoscope of color at the garden center is unappealing. I'm glad you've joined the party!
P.S. Belle Epoque tulips, and maybe tulips in general, are on my sh*t list. I got so tired of shelling out money for these fancy annuals. The ones that do naturalize in my garden all get that weird disease that makes their leaves ugly. And the last time I planted tulips, only 2 came up. So, for now, I'm done trying to grow them.
Oh no, I had no idea! I can't even get my tulips to bloom, so I can't imagine having them bloom only to get disease. Ugh, Belle Epoque tulips are beautiful though.
I never knew pansies could have long stems! You've totally piqued my interest. Sarah Raven had a podcast episode earlier this spring about species tulips and how they're more resistant than cultivated tulips are to fungal diseases and other side effects of wetter winters and springs. They're smaller and daintier, but I bet they'd look great with violas and pansies! https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/species-tulips-and-why-you-should-grow-them-with/id1550764907?i=1000703863673 PS- Thanks for that Libby tip!!
Thank you! Maybe I'd have better luck with species tulips. And I think that some pansies are supposed to have longer stems--I'm surprised with how long the stems are on Antique Shades, and I'm just growing them in pots, so in the ground I bet they're even better.
Maybe it is the year of the pansy! I always thought I hated them but I realized this year I just hate the giant short floppy ones and then fell in love with the Brushstrokes Viola and off I went down the rabbit hole. I LOVE those Antique Laeta ones - and your planter with all of them stuffed in looks so charming. Thanks for the book recommendation! :)
Thanks, Alison, and glad we're on the same page! I definitely used to turn my nose up at them, too, ha ha. I love the brushstrokes! Maybe I need to grow those next year.