Oh, now I wish I had sown my carefully gathered columbine seed. I keep trying to increase my plots (in a small city plot). Only problem is that if I let them germinate then the chickweed germinates right along with it. Sigh. I guess I could do that, let the weed grow along with the columbine, then when the columbine was established I could deal with the chickweed the following spring. I am really surprised that the columbine I have doesn't increase more as there are plenty of flowers and ruptured seed pods so I know the seeds are being distributed. The small blue and white ones are everywhere - darn near weeds - so why not the taller guys

Would columbine grow if sown onto snow?
I wonder? Foxglove too?
I do Iceland poppy onto snow.

Really?? Oh. I could do that. I have a small amount of seed from last summer. Now to figure out where I would like them to grow. I have one bed, a tiny one on a very slight slope with full sun that would look really pretty with the poppies along the lower edge. But I have some hardscaping to do first. Brick along top and bottom to allow building up a little more depth and a hard line between the little 12" path by the falls up to the biowell that always fills with the most pernicious weeds that then infiltrate the flowers. Grrrrr. Plus I am not sure what I want to put there. Would convert to a really neat rock garden. Would need to amend the soil differently I think though for those little guys.

I have been following along this discussion the last couple of weeks or so and mulling over thoughts that managed to pierce through the fog of fever dreams. This winter viral season is kicking my butt and the weather is too. I wish I had a globe to look at while tracking our individual experiences with pansies, violas and other self seeding plants in our climates. I wonder how much of our seed survival is related to the hybrid/non hybrid issues, the moisture, snow cover, weather vs. climate, manner of sowing or all the other influences on seedling survival rates. In my experience over the years I have found that non-hybridized versions (or as close as I can get) tend survive better if not thrive. Years ago I came across some so called antique variety of pansy seeds via mail order that managed to survive for several years before petering out. I have never had any other pansy variety manage, consider them strictly annuals here. The old fashioned JJ ups thrive, once in a great while one of the newer varieties will have a few stragglers into the next season opening but never make it all the way through. Old fashioned single hollyhocks thrive, doubles die, prairie cone flowers, the list goes on and on. This has consistently held up in seed grown plants...woody plants not at all. It seems like such a mystery.

Pansy update! So it's been pretty cold, especially at night with a lot of extreme cold due to wind chill. We had a decent snow the other day/night. I had put my potted pansies under a table on my deck, nestled up to the wall of my home to see how they might overwinter. Here're some pictures of how they're doing so far. I must say that I'm pleasantly surprised.

The pot on the left with the dead something in it isn't a pansy--I just put it there to help keep the pansies a tiny bit more sheltered.

I think I will try to find some heirloom pansy seeds in some catalogue on line. I have the JJ kind of violas and they come back everywhere.
It is mostly non hybrids for me--except I am going to try some of the vege crosses.

It is interesting that the American and Japanese hybrid peonies are the most robust here. The suffructicosa advanced generation hybrids are the best of all. Tree peony hybrids that will bloom here. But in general I find as you do that they tend to be a bit of a prima donna. Although to be fair some of the research places in Canada and our northern states have bred some really hardy plants of all sorts especially roses like the Buck and Park roses.

For sure, there are advances in plant science that benefit us in colder climates. But if I just want to toss seeds out, and forget about wildflowers----the older varieties seem to work better then newer hybrids.

I will try that. Any suggestions on where I can get seeds that are older varieties. How would I know if they are older. Well, obviously not if they are F1 or F2 or such.

I just found out that I was mistaken a bit on the tree peonies. Solaris articles say that the rockii are the hardiest for them in Wisconsin. A fellow gardener here has just sent me two!! As a gift. How terribly thoughtful and generous. Can hardly wait. They should be here Saturday. Will pot them up and put them in the crawl space til spring. I have had others make it through just fine that way.

Still planning on 'being at Solaris' Grand Opening January 1 at 7am our time.

Mary, what a wonderful gift -- I hope those tree peonies will thrive for many years for you!

Thanks Sandy. Me too.

Pansy update: After a few tough storms that left us about three feet of snow and very cold, this is what my potted pansies look like. I don't know if there's life in them but I will keep checking. The moment I see something, I'll nurture it. They do look rather gone right now though.

They do look pretty sad right now, Joanna - but I wouldn't be surprised if they bounce back for you.

Update.

They are about as dead as dead can be

But I was lucky to find a sale at a nearby nursery: 6 pansy plants for 99 cents! This is one of them. I find it humorous because it reminds me of those cartoon characters that used to wear a flowerpot on their heads.


Sorry to leave you with bad news, but at least there's a nice beginning with a nice picture. Hope it makes you smile.