Create festive fall planters with cold-hardy pansies

By MELINDA MYERS

Star Tribune (Minneapolis) (TNS) P ansies have long been a fall and winter garden favorite. These cheery owers are sure to brighten landscapes and containers and add a smile to any occasion. Look for fun and new ways to add them to your garden and fall celebrations.

You will _nd these cool-weather favorites at your local garden center. Pansies thrive in the cooler temperatures of fall and during mild winters when your summer annuals fade or succumb to frost. They make great _llers in garden beds and containers or displayed in their own planter.

Cool Wave, WonderFall and other trailing pansies are perfect for hanging baskets, as trailers in container gardens or as edging plants in garden beds. You will need half as many of these pansy varieties to cover the same garden space.

Plant a basket of white trailing pansies, add some sunglasses and you have a ghost for Halloween. Scoop out the inside of a pumpkin, add some drainage holes and use it for a planter. Fill it with potting mix and you’ll have a biodegradable pot for the compost pile when _nished. Or, simply set a container of pansies inside your pumpkin pot.

Be sure to include a few favorite colors, fragrant varieties and some All-America Selections winners. Ultima Morpho was the 2002 winner that was selected for its distinct blue and yellow ower design. Padparadja is a true orange pansy that is perfect for fall and Majestic Giants pansy, selected in 1966, can still be found for sale. Generations

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of gardeners have planted this largeowered, traditional-faced pansy.

Include pansies in your fall meals and gatherings. Only use pansies and other edible owers that have not been treated with pesticides. Be sure to let your guests know that the pansies are safe to eat, so they can enjoy this unique dining experience.

Pick a few owers, remove the reproductive parts and freeze them in ice cube trays to serve in your favorite beverage. Float a few of the ower ice cubes in your favorite punch.

Add a gourmet touch, some unique avor and color to your salads by topping a bed of greens with a few owers. Continue the theme by decorating cookies or cakes with a few of your favorite pansies. The cheerful owers will generate happy thoughts and for some, a way to enjoy the last of this season’s garden.

Brighten the start of school and your classroom while showing your favorite teacher a bit of appreciation. A do-it-yourself planter _lled with cheery pansies is sure to elevate the mood of students and teachers alike.

Purchase plenty of pansies. You are sure to _nd other creative ways to utilize them this fall or simply use them as colorful _llers for voids in gardens and containers.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including “The Midwest Gardener’s Handbook” and “Small Space Gardening.” She hosts the Great Courses’ “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the syndicated “Melinda’s Garden Moment” program on TV and radio.

You will find these cool-weather favorites at your local garden center. Pansies thrive in the cooler temperatures of fall and during mild winters when your summer annuals fade or succumb to frost.