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Saturday, January 7, 2012

Johnny Jump-Up Viola Cornuta


You would think it was spring already in Southeast Texas with temperature today heading to 78 degrees. I know we will surely have some very chilly days before March comes along, but I am so excited to see some signs of color and sprouts all about the garden.
Johnny Jump-ups are one of my favorite wild flowers. They have such a beautiful deep purple and yellow bloom. I do have a few that naturalized as a solid purple and they are just as lovely.
The seeds are best sown in the fall for spring blooms. I've had mine for several years and in mild winters like this one I can go out and dig them up and move them into other areas where I will appreciate them.
They are so lovely during Easter mixed among the early blooming bulbs of the Bearded Iris. This year I'm mixing them with the heirloom purple and red cabbages.
The entire plant is edible and makes quite a display atop a lovely spring time salad. I love the way flowers look on salad. Usually at this time I can add Borage blooms as well for a lovely periwinkle blue.I hope to share a salad or two with a few of my favorite garden friends again this year.
As spring turns to summer here, the Johnny Jump-Ups will soon fade away as the temperatures rise. 
It is a wonderful annual and terrific about reseeding itself and each year you will find more and more.
Give them a tid bit of partial shade by growing them under other taller vegetables and plants in the garden and they will last a bit longer. Keep them in a rich and loose composted soil and you will find them spreading out into a luscious ground cover. 


Nothing says spring is here more than the likes of tiny Violas and naturally Colored Easter Eggs.

Happy Gardening!!
Pammy

4 comments:

  1. Greetings from Southern California

    I am Your Newest Follower

    Take Care & Have a Nice Day :-)

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  2. Hi Ron!! Wow, so great to have you here ;) ~ Pammy

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  3. these r very beautiful,do they ,oh what is the word im looking for,trusif,i think i spelt that right...lol...can they be planted around oak trees

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  4. HI!! I wouldn't think they would do as well under a tree, especially an Oak, but it wouldn't hurt to try. They do seem to enjoy the sunshine, especially in the cooler temps. It is when it gets hot they seem to enjoy a little relief, but at that time they are not quite as pretty. Hope this helps and so glad you visited =D

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