rosina—Pink flowers with intense fragrance.
semperflorens—Mats of fresh green leaves with purple flowers that last much of the summer.
tricolor—Commonly known as Johnny-jump-up, an all-summer-long bloomer with small purple and gold flowers.
tricolor hortensis—Pansies which grow in many colors and color combinations.
CARE. Rich garden soil, partial shade, moisture, light winter protection.
PROPAGATION. Seeds (sown in flats and exposed to freezing weather over winter for spring germination), division, layering of runners of those varieties that produce them.
SPECIAL USES. Cut flowers, beds, edging, rock gardens.
CHAPTER 16
MINIATURE ANNUALS
Even if every inch of our gardens were permanently planted, I’d probably still start some annuals every spring. In those depressing, letdown weeks of January after the holidays nothing brightens my life like leafing through the new seed catalogues. In the dark days of March when late-winter blusters snarl at spring and threaten to hold it off forever, my perky indoor seedlings tell me that it is just around a bend in the road. My traditional birthday treat, in early June, is a day all my own when I get my favorite flower beds ready for the summer. I absolutely refuse to fry an egg, wash a dish, or lift a dustcloth. Before dark on that wonderful day I see that every seedling is planted in moist warm soil.