Pauses ... that’s for thoughts” 
VER since Shakespeare’s day, and probably be- 
fore that, Pansies have been among the best- 
loved garden flowers. Originally they were small, 
inconspicuous blooms but careful seed selection has 
brought us the huge modern Pansies in a much wider 
range of color than the original blue-violet. 
How to use Pansies to the best advantage outdoors 
is a delightful problem every year. There are many, 
many places where their winsome faces will be a charm- 
ing accompaniment for other spring flowers. And 
planted in masses by themselves Pansies make a breath- 
taking picture. Long beds of them bordermg walks, 
along a hedge, or in front of a foundation planting are 
a sight not soon forgotten. These may be of either 
solid or mixed colors. A bed of a deep color such as 
Lake of Thun or Coronation Gold edged with white 
or a contrasting tone is dramatic indeed, while a 
bed of mixed colors never ceases to be fascinating. 
If you set out your Pansy plants in the fall, they 
will be among the earliest flowers to appear in your 
garden in the spring. This means that their velvety 
blooms are showing at the same time as narcissus, 
English daisies, tulips and other spring bulbs. Why 
not take advantage of this fact by combining them 
with some of these flowers? For example, blue and 
white Pansies planted alternately as a border for yellow 
and white narcissus or pink azaleas are most de ightful, 
while white Pansies alone are lovely as an under-plant- 
ing for Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica). 
The tall stems of tulips are all the better for Pansies 
growing at their feet. Try Copper Lustre Pansy with 
a pale yellow tulip, Blue Boy with light or deep 
pink or orange-yellow tulips, or Lake of Thun with a 
golden variety. Rose beds may very well be edged with 
Pansies, and by using them as a border for a row of 
peonies and under shrubs you can introduce color into 
a section of the garden that would otherwise be with- 
out it for several weeks to come. 


