It’s now about time to enhanceour fall, winter and springgardens with some loveable,

colourful, perfumed winter pan-sies. But there is more to it thanjust popping them in the ground.Done well, they can create magicin our fall gardens and again in late winter andspring when we really need that colour lift.

The natural colours in winter landscapes arebasically bleak: cold grey skies; faded grassesand bare trees; and slate coloured streets anddriveways. What we need during these dullmonths is brightness. Warm colours, such asyellows, reds and oranges, along with whitesfor accent, will add life to our gardens. Pastelcolours, like most blues, pinks and mauves, canshow up well if they’re accented properly.

Multicoloured pansies are attractive, but theywon’t have the same impact in a winter land-scape as single coloured pansies that not onlystand out by themselves, but are also furtherenhanced by being paired with pansies of com-plementary colours, such as the new plannedcolour combinations like ‘Citrus Mix’, ‘OceanBreeze’ and ‘Raspberry Sundae’. Yellows andblues are often used together very effectively,but what about soft yellows with attractive ma-roon-reds or wine-purples? Believe me, they’recombinations that really work! Reds and whitestogether aren’t bad either. Whites with deeppurples look very classy and bright oranges withpastel blues are also great. The point is: put somestriking colour combinations together for a farmore dramatic result in your garden.

Now, where to put them? It’s important tounderstand that unless you mass plant pansiesthey are never going to provide the high impactof marigolds or petunias. They will be far moreeffective when strategically located in high vis-

ibility locations, such as along your drivewayand sidewalks and around focal trees in yourlandscape. Stand back and take a good look atyour landscape to see just where little bits ofcolour would spark things up for the comingfall and winter.

If you have some large flower beds you’d liketo liven up, use pansies along with other winterplants. Flowering kale and cabbage are sensa-tional winter focal points, especially the new‘Winter Bor’, ‘Red Bor’ and the silver ‘laciniata’.Plant kale in attractive patterns, using blocksof three to five plants. Between your groupingsof kale, add blocks of solid, brightly colouredpansies. Try orange pansies around purple kaleor deep blue pansies around white kale. Thesecombinations are really eye-catching!

The ‘Proven Winner’ folks have come up witha wonderful series of hardy evergreen plantsthat complement pansies very nicely. Dwarfevergreen grasses make fabulous focal pointsin planting beds or containers. For example,Carex ‘Evergold’ has white and yellow varie-gated foliage that is quite striking all winterlong. Acorus ‘Ogon’ is a more upright gold andgreen that acts like a spark plug for wintercombinations. These grasses are also perfectcompanions to small bulbs like blue crocus anddwarf Iris reticulata. The new evergreen aju-gas, like the deep purple ‘Mahogany’ the pink/cream ‘Burgundy Glow’ and ‘Black Scallop’,make fine ground covers or edging plants andare great complements to pansies.

We’ve only just begun to discover the plea-sure and value that pansies can add to a gardenduring the bleakest time of the year. The smallflowered violas and the stunning ‘Matrix’ seriesof pansies are some of the hardiest varieties.Getting an early start will make a huge differ-ence to the size and quality of your pansy dis-play. If the hot weather makes them stretch justa bit, a little pinching back will not only keepthem compact but will also really bulk them up.

REVIEWHome ShowREEVVIEWVVCreate colourful magicIN THE GARDEN Brian Minter

www.tricitynews.com Tri-City News Friday, September 23, 2011, A39

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UPDATED RANCHERYou will be amazed with the fi nishing touches on this spacious 2 bedroom and den Eagle Ridge townhome. High end engineered hardwood, crown moldings, wainscoting, 2 foot tiles, new carpeting, fresh paint and much more. #18 1140 Falcon Drive.

PRICED TO SELL!3 bedroom 1100 square foot condo only minutes to downtown Port Co-quitlam. Lots of room for the young family. Nice quite complex with indoor pool, hot tub and rec center.

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Marketing & Sales by: Portrait Homes Realty Ltd.

www.portraithomes.ca/blog/

Prices exclude taxes. In the continuing effort to meet the challenge of product improvement, we reserve the right to modify or change plans, specifications or prices without notice. Plans may be reversed depending on lot grading. Renderings are an artist’s conception only and are intended as a general reference only. All dimensions and sizes are approximate. E. & O. E.

www.tricitynews.comA40 Friday, September 23, 2011, Tri-City News

Prices exclude taxes. In the continuing effort to meet the challenge of product improvement, we reserve the right to modify or change plans, specifications or prices without notice. Plans may be reversed depending on lot grading. All dimensions and sizes are approximate. E. & O. E.

Marketing & Sales by: Portrait Homes Realty Ltd.

www.portraithomes.ca/blog/

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www.tricitynews.com Tri-City News Friday, September 23, 2011, A41

www.tricitynews.comA42 Friday, September 23, 2011, Tri-City News

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www.tricitynews.com Tri-City News Friday, September 23, 2011, A43

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