Happy Faces

Day 299: The people who annually plant non-native flowers in an illegal "memorial" site in the Park once again contributed to my garden at some point between Mother's Day and Easter when they bedded in two pots of pansies (left and right). I'd love to catch them in the act, and have been tempted to stake out the site, but I do not have law enforcement capabilities, although I betcha I could make their ears burn. In any event, I have a spot in the front flower bed in which pansies do quite well, but even so, I'm surprised to see them flourishing despite several periods of hot, dry weather. They were refreshed by a good rain last night, and if they want to re-seed, they're welcome to try. On the other hand, the violas (aka Johnny-jump-ups) in the middle image are a pest, and as such, are remarkably persistent. Still, they're colour, and at this point in summer, I'll take all the happy faces I can get.

Happy Faces

Day 319: Viola tricolor goes by a vast number of common names. I either call them Violas or Johnny-Jump-ups, but you might know them as Wild Pansy or Heart's-ease, or more rarely, Heart's Delight, Tickle-my-fancy, Come-and-cuddle-me, and Wikipedia suggests Jack-jump-up-and-kiss-me, three faces in a hood, love in idleness, or pink of my john. I can honestly say I've never heard any of the last four, but apparently "love in idleness" occurs several times in Shakespeare. In any event, they're a cute little flower, but in a tended flower bed, they can be a real nuisance. They reseed themselves with a vengeance, and although they're lovely en masse in the spring, the foliage goes brown as soon as hot weather arrives. I don't mind letting these johnnies jump up in my yard, but I desire no love in idleness or pink of anyone's john in my bed!

The 60 Pound Dog

Day 359: There is an old bit of advice which cautions that behaviour we may find amusing in an eight-pound puppy may not be quite so entertaining in a sixty-pound dog. That is certainly the case with Violas. Cute though they may be in portrait, they quickly fade and turn into leggy plants which have little appeal by the end of the season. And they are persistent. I have been trying to rid my garden of them for almost thirty years now, and they still keep popping up beneath the sheltering leaves of the ornamentals. They have escaped into my lawn and vegetable pots despite my diligence, and often evade notice until some morning when I throw back the curtains and find them smiling at me in full bloom. Johnny-jump-up! Was ever a plant so aptly named? They jump up everywhere, as persistent as dandelions. Too bad they can't stay puppies forever.

A Study In Persistence

Day 55: Blooming in spite of a week of hard frosts, Viola persists. That alone should be enough to qualify it for the title "weed." I've tried to eradicate it from my garden, and it goes without saying that I have been unsuccessful in my quest. Still, you have to acknowledge the heroic tenacity of this plant, as if it could echo the words, "Never give up. Never surrender." You'd admire that in a human, so why not give Viola its due?