[gardeners] Pansies and philosophy
Liz Albrook (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Thu, 9 Apr 1998 23:58:08 +0000
drusus@golden.net <gardeners@globalgarden.com> wrote:
> There's always pansies, very tough. Lucinda
Yes, but can you tell me where to get the ones that they used to
sell? I can't abide these Blue! Yellow! Red! Pink! pansies they sell
now. I used to love pansies when I was a kid -- the tri-colored
pansies with faces. I think most pansies sold now are boring as can
be.
The only ones I've seen in recent years that really move me are
Antique shades -- just 5 colors but they look like the whole spectrum
on parade -- and Chansom series -- ruffled and edged. I can't find
either type this year.
Violas, on the other hand, are getting nicer. Now, in addition to
the standard bright yellow and purple with an orange dot violas,
there are pastel yellow and purples along with stripes, and subtle
color shadings. I'd really like to have violas similar to those
Tasha Tudor raises -- they are exquisite and interesting flowers with
complex coloring.
I look at flowers this way: I have a very small yard so I have to
make use of what I have in ways that will keep my attention. I find
that the plain blue pansies of today look wonderful amassed in beds
but I just don't have that kind of space. I'm more a single specimen
type and I like for my single specimens to have qualities that can't
be appreciated with just one glance. Flowers that have illusive
scents or colors or forms that aren't easily described are emotional
and artistic challenges to me, much the same way chemistry and
physics are intellectual challenges.
I guess I'm weirder than I thought!
Liz