2017: Year of the Pansy

The National Garden Bureau has named 2017 the Year of the Pansy!  Pansies were chosen this year because they certainly fit all the selection criteria: popular, easy-to-grow, widely adaptable, genetically diverse, and versatile.

We love pansies because they are one of the first bloomers of spring and bring much-needed color to a garden after a long Rochester winter.  They can take cool temps and even a bit of frost, so go ahead and plant them outside starting around mid-April.  They don’t love super-hot sun, so try planting them where they get morning sun and afternoon shade to extend their blooming season further into the summer.

And did you know?

Van Putte Landscape installed the new pansy bed and surrounding walkways in Highland Park last year (2016).  We can’t wait to see what kind of pansy design the city plants this year… Be sure to check it out when you head downtown for the Lilac Fest this spring (May 12-21, 2017)!

Want to learn more?

Click here to read The National Garden Bureau’s Article on Pansies