Speaking of Pansies

By Judy Miller December 20, 2005 – Posted in: Miscellaneous, Plant info

While hunting up long-stemmed pansies instead of the flat pansy-colored blobs on offer nowdays in most catalogs, I came across enough re-naming of varieties to make my head swim.
And enough ‘Marketers Gone Bad’ examples to make me laugh out loud.

First, the re-naming: Bingos are now Matrix, Baby Bingos are Panache & Panolas, and what’s left of the Baby Bingo seem to be re-appearing through the 4th dimension of advertising as Icicles. (Check out the color names, the photos–overly coincidental, to me).
And for the over-the-top, hard to digest medal winners: some Flamencos are now renamed Boleros–no, strike that, some fool is calling them Pansymonium (I kid you not: “Pansymonium Hot ChiliGolden Grape”, Pansy Pansymonium Flamenco Cabernet, etc.) The -monium folks are the same ones who thought up the Icicle advertising coup. Actually, most pansies will overwinter if fall planted; and there are many varieties that are winter hardy (Sky, Skyline, the Cornutas, Crowns, Swiss Giants, Panolas……) and not so spendy, and you don’t have to put up with the Mad Ave blather.
As in: Pansy Pandora Rainbow Stupendo, Pansy Pansymonium Bolero Rosy Ringled and Pansy Bolero Soft Light Azure Limonette.
Gack.

About the Author

USDA Hardiness Zone: 4b/5aLocation: rural; just south of British Columbia/Idaho borderGeographic type: foot of Black & Clifty Mountains (foothills of Rockies–the Wet Columbia Mountains in BC climate- speak)Soil type:acid sand (glacial lake bed)/coniferous forestExperience level: intermediate/professionalParticular interests: fragrant & edible plants, hardy bulbs, cottage gardening, alpines, peonies, penstemons & other blue flowers, primulas, antique & species roses & iris; nocturnal flowers Also: owner of Paradise Gardens Rare Plant Nursery

It’s the little things that bug me

Western Gardening

In the end, this may be the most important thing about frost: Frost slows us down. In spring, it tempers our eagerness. In fall, it brings closure and rest. In our gotta-go world–where every nanosecond seems to count–slowness can be a great gift. So rather than see Jack Frost as an adversary, you could choose to greet him as a friend.

~Philip Harnden in A Gardener’s Guide to Frost: Outwit the Weather and Extend the Spring and Fall Seasons

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