Whimsical Planter and Brush Strokes Viola

Today I would just like to say a big THANK YOU to my readers who have stayed with me, in spite of my infrequent posts this past year. At present, I am working daily on getting my garden planted and weeded. We have had precious few days of sunshine as of yet, so when the weather settles the temps will likely soar. This seems to be a typical spring pattern for us here in our river valley. Notice how green our mountain is, in the below photo!

This old baby buggy frame was given to me by my sweet friend, Catherine a few years ago. I have used it with several combinations of flowers and containers, but this year has got to be my all time favorite! I made the wooden box to grow wheat grass in, for a Bridal shower. The mellow, weathered wood just seems to fit the old buggy. It is planted with Brush Strokes Viola, started from seed in January.

Here are some of their lovely faces, up close.

They are aptly named, as they really do look like they have been painted by an artist's brush!

There are both bold colors and some softer ones, like this yellow and lavender mix.

Another pot of Brush Strokes Viola, in an old iron planter on my porch, with Denim blue pansies as a backdrop.

A lovely flower from the above pot.....just look those stunning colors!



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Gardening requires lots of water - most of it in the form of perspiration.

~Lou Erickson

Pansy Love

Dear husband brought me home some flowers recently. Not the kind you put in a vase, or plant in the ground...... but these lovely little pansies!

Pansies are one of my favorite Spring flowers, so he scored big with these LOVE stamps!

It makes me want to sit down and write someone, just so I can affix one of these little sweeties to the envelope. :-)

And here is the real thing. Historic Mix Pansies I started from seed, around the first of the year, have been blooming now for several weeks. I couldn't resist adding a few to this small vintage green glass bottle. I liked the results! I can never go back to those huge floppy pansies sold at the nurseries and big box stores. These heirloom pansies are smaller, more delicate in size and coloring. Way back in the 1800's they were called "tufted pansies.' I love their various colors and shadings....and since they are open pollinated there can be some nice surprises. This particular one is lavender with a darker face, washed with a bronze cast. Best of all....seeds can be saved to start again next year!



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In Victorian times, certain flowers had specific meanings. In the language of Flowers, Pansies stood for loving thoughts.

"I pray, what flowers are these? The pansy this, O, that's for lover's thoughts"

~ George Chapman