Cool season containers can be perfume factories

Tag : perfume
Plants such as the Citrona erysimum, nemesia, pansy, viola andsweet alyssum can be combined in artful displays that catch the eyewith their vivid colors and capture the nose with their lovelyfragrances.

The new Velocity Lemon Plum Picotee viola offers its own version ofthe complementary color scheme without even having a partner. Onereason pansies and violas are so loved is for their colors, andanother is for their delightful fragrances. Add Vanilla Sachetnemesia to the mix and you'll come under the "spell of the smell."Nemesia is related to the snapdragon and is planted in the sameseason.

Another in the Velocity series is Velocity Purple Bicolor, whichfurther demonstrates the extraordinary colors and flower power ofviolas. It also shows that when it comes to pansies, bigger is notalways better. These are extremely cold tolerant and have shownremarkable heat tolerance once spring begins to retreat.

Velocity Purple Bicolors and Sachet Vanilla nemesias form acombination that is both exquisitely beautiful in its colorcontrast and delightfully scented. The violas are fragrant and,with the Sachet Vanilla nemesias, absolutely tantalizing.

Cool season container gardening is also a time to create bowls orplanters using several plants.

I saw one last year that had incredible color and was a trueperfume delight. The tallest plant was a member of the cabbagefamily called Citrona orange, which was a fiery contrast with thepurple from Matrix Purple pansies and alyssum. Sorbet Sunny Royaleviola was unique in that it either harmonized or contrasted withevery other plant in the container. Easter Bonnet alyssum softlytumbled over the rim of container.

Many gardeners overlook alyssum, which is a cool season performeruseful for its beauty and fragrance. The Easter Bonnet series haslong been a favorite, but look for the new Alyssum Clear Crystals.This series is the first tetraploid alyssum, and it has largerflowers that boast a lot of color and fragrance.

Let alyssum gently cascade over the rim of your containers orwindow boxes. As a border plant in the landscape, it can soften theharsh, straight lines of sidewalks or square beds by creeping overthe edge and adding some curves.

It is very important in the cool season to use a good, lightweightpotting mix. Containers must have good moisture andnutrient-holding capacity but also drain freely so flowers are notsitting in soggy, cold soil.

I have mentioned a lot of new varieties, but don't fret if thesearen't at your garden center yet. When you visit, you will see morenew, colorful flowers than you ever thought possible for the coolseason landscape or container garden.

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(Garden lecturer and author of "Mississippi Gardener's Guide,""Paradise Found Growing Tropicals in Your Own Backyard" and thehighly acclaimed "Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South.")

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