Pansies are a gardener's favorite,
due to their multi-colored, happy faces that grow anywhere and bloom
under even harsh conditions. Their name means "thought"
from the French pensee, and indeed bright pansy faces can seem pensive
and full of wisdom with their whisker-patterned petals.
Perennials in the best weather, biennials
the rest of the time, pansies are purchased by the dozens. Bunches
of blooming pansies can be found already planted in cheerful pots
and baskets, and towards the end of autumn, their prices are reduced
to mere pennies and they can be planted in the garden as filler
flowers for springtime.
Pansies grow best in zones 4-8 and
are able to reseed themselves. However, many gardeners find that,
after a couple of years, pansies grow "leggy" and may
not bloom with the same profusion as they did when first planted.
Overall, pansies are easily cared
for, like mulched and fertilized moist soil, and can be used both
as accent flowers and as groupings for focal points in window boxes,
flower pots, and garden beds. Pansies come in almost every color
and various sizes, which makes them ideal additions to barren spots
that require smaller flowers.
