by Connie Oswald Stofko
Pansies are in bloom now and can add color to your garden, porch or patio.
While cold temperatures won’t kill pansies, temperatures in the 20s Fahrenheit can damage the blooms, said Jessica Limardi, who is on the staff at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville.
Nightime temperatures may get that low in the coming week.
“Without a good thick blanket of snow, the flowers can get damaged, so pull them close to the house, sheltered by a porch or shrub, or throw a sheet over them,” she said.
You can buy pansies in packs, flats or patio pots. The pots range in size from 6 1/2 inches to 12 inches.
For instant wow in your garden, Limardi suggested buying pansies in one of the larger size pots (6 1/2-inch, 8 1/2-inch or even 10-inch pots) and planting the flowers into your garden.
You can spread cheer by sending pansies locally from Mischler’s. (Yes, it’s okay to send flowers to yourself, too!)
Recycle pots
A reader asked me where she can recycle pots from plants.
If you have pots left over from Mischler’s, you can take them back to Mischler’s to be disinfected and reused. See which pots Mischler’s will recycle here.
If you know of other places that take back used gardening pots, please leave a comment below.
