I actually wasn't sure if I should start this thread in the Cottage Garden Annuals or in the Perennial Section. In the end I decided to put it here. That in spite of the fact that I am hoping the violas turn out to be perennial.

So today I had a trip to the local favorite nursery of mine. I had decided to look for violas. I am on a kick for early spring color to add to the garden. Been focusing on bulbs to accomplish that but just realized this year that violas could do lots to add early color. Plus the benefit of fall color also.

I had read on the internet that the Sorbet Brand Series were tested in New Hampshire for overwintering and came thru the trials very well. I thought that if they overwinter in NH, they surely should here on Long Island. So my goal was to see if I could find this series locally. Sucess! That was extactly what they had at the nursery. It even was printed on the tag that these were the most winterhardy violas. But then the tag also ID the plant as an annual. Talk about an identity crisis!

At any rate, I bought an entire flat of Sorbet Coconut Swirl. Two six packs of Sorbet Orange Delight and Sorbet Plum Delight. One six pack of Sorbet Blue Heaven. I have lots of places already in mind for them so we will se how they do.

I love Violas, they perform well as early season annuals for me, but I rarely get return from them. Sounds like I need to try the Sorbet series! Lots of folks around here have excellent reseeding from the common little Johnny Jump Up Violas, but I haven't even had any luck with that. Seems it was during drought years that I tried them last, so I should try again and see what happens. Although we've only had one decent rain this April, so I don't know if this will be the year to try.

Well, I have come down with a new plant addiction. I now have the viola crazies. Goes with all my other garden carzies like the rose crazies, daylily crazies, lily crazies and iris crazies.

I don't know why I never realised I really like these before. And I especially love the way they smell wonderful.

It wasn't until I was around a mass of them that I realized what a lovely fragrance they have. I wish more varieties were available in fall, that's when I prefer to plant them. Then they're in full bloom along with spring bulbs.

Never mind wishing they had them in the fall, I wish they had more of a selection in the spring. I am going to have to order seeds and try sowing for fall bloom. Have you ever grown violas from seed? There are so many new fancy F1 hybreds these days. They are so pretty but you can't save seed or let those self seed. Don't come true from seed.

A couple of years ago I did grow Parks 'Ultima Morpho Blue' without much difficultly and they were gorgeous. Definitely easier to do for fall bloom too, that way you can start them outdoors (I have better luck in containers than direct sowing). They're said to require darkness to germinate, and some folks insist you've got to cover the containers, but I just lightly covered the seeds with potting compost. I figure that's how nature does it, and they germinated great. In late spring/ early summer some of the seed companies have sales too, so you can often pick up those for summer sowing at a better price.

I planted all my violas. Then I thought about buying some seed for fall. Of course it's just spring so whatever I do in fall will be far, far away. So I found some Viola Angel Amber Kiss plants available now on line sold by the really big flat. I dithered about getting them as it was so many plants. But I decided to go for it. Geez, I am going to have these things all over my garden.

I picked this one rather than another type because these are also a very cold tolerent variety, as were the Sorbert Series. These are whats called an Angel Series. I guess they are just brand names. I am hoping for spring return from plants, not seed. Also they are very fragrant. I love the fragrant ones. The ones I bought in the pansey bowls eary this spring are very fragrant and I love that.

I had a gorgeous dark purple one pop up in an old container last year. Since it had survived the winter or self sown I decided to save some seed. It was a challenge, as the little pods were small one day, and open the next it seemed. I got some though, and they germinated well. Will try to save some more this year!

I found (and bought) the MOST beautiful and sweetly scented violas today. Went out and visited a nursery more out east than my usual haunts. I bought three large pots of REBECCA and three small pots of ETIAN. Wow are they pretty. The entire car smelled wonderful all the way driving home too. And even better is the fact that these are perenial in my zone. REBECCA cold hardy to zone 5 and ETIAN cold hardy to zone 4.

They are already planted. I took pictures and will post them as soon as I get a chance, not before tomorrow though. Too busy planting.

Here are the Etian Violas.

And here is a closeup of Viola Rebecca.

And here is Rebecca all planted in it's new home.

Oooh, I love both of those!

I may try wintersowing a few of these. I have never had any luck with them reseeding either. To me they are are such a happy looking little flower.
Teresa

Don't know if they are called violas or not, but I have a ton of wild white violets...wood violets? They are blooming all over the yard right now in spite of us having had a few hard freezes. Yes I'm in Florida, but where I live it does get COLD. Maybe not for long, but still hard freezes. I love the little violets and they are welcome to self sow whever they please

Well, I loved mine while they were here but it did not last long. All the violas died and now I have none. Last spring I did get some of the annual kinds to put in some planters and I think I might do the same this year.