Gardening : Color for the Winter Garden

Although the skies are sometimes overcast and gardens seem forlorn and forgotten, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are lots of blooming flowers that love the cool temperature of winter and early spring. Here are some of the hardier ones:

Pansies and violas--These hardy annuals will go through winter and sping until the hot weather hits. They provide the best color. Full sun or half day is fine. Feed monthly with a fertilizer. Get familiar with the new varieties of pansies--Cloud Series. It’s replacing the Universal Mix and Maxim Mix which has two-inch flowers with a dark blotched face.

Cyclamen--It makes great container color or accent plants. Cyclamen are available in either a standard size or a mini variety. Both are covered with bright flowers. Choose from white, red, pink or rose. They do best in dappled sunlight. Pich off faded blooms to keep flowers producing.