^^^OH!!! What a brilliant thought! And to bring back the charming but quite forgotten tradition of May Day secret flower deliveries is right up my alley. I used to do that through the years now and then. Time to revive it!

Thank you for the reply. =)

I like the gifting idea!

And for planting, thinking I'd mix just a few coordinating colors in clumps in a container, rather than completely mingling them all together.

I have finally come to the point in my aging where I look for nice people in the neighborhood who I think would be delighted to be paid for small tasks that would just overwhelm me. I make it clear that their services are a favor to me and I am grateful for their help, and I pay a generous amount that will make them happy to see me next time. I met a young father on disabilty (he said, and I did not ask for what) who recently helped by moving a heavy piece of furniture to the dumpster area. Perhaps you could find someone like that to help with the pansification of your back yard.

For the same reason, I've added three planters to my garden because I can manage planting in them where I cannot in the actual flowerbed. I like both monotone and mixed color arrangements. I tend to do shades of a color, but I have one planter that has yellow, white and pink in it and it looks so cheerful.

I have the same problem! I over-bought perennials this year, forgetting about an order I placed back in January for some things that I then surprisingly found locally and bought again. I almost always lose a few things due to a winter freeze or something, so I need a replacement here and there. Plus I was hobbled last fall and didn’t ever get around to many of the usual chores which I’ve had to do this spring. It’s killing me! I’ve finally planted all but 2 things and trying to decide where to cram them in but it’s too wet this week to do anything.

I wouldnt knock myself out planting pansies, since they usually poop out mid-July in the heat. I guess that depends on where you live. I love them for early spring here but replace them in May or June.

Id lift them out of the sixpack and put them in planters, all in a bunch, or several bunches.

My OCD self is aghast at the thought of mixing colors! 🤣

Alas, my eyes are also bigger than my yard. I’m dragging out all my flower pots too. I have discovered that divisions from hosta like growing in pots.

Can't help because I do the same thing and have a heck of a time getting down to plant anything.(one knee replacement which is actually great, one knee with two torn minisci, arthritis). Just keep them watered and plant a few each day or more a day with breaks in between. If you can manage a shovel, just dig up several large areas and pop the wee pansies in and cover them.

Large pots would also work.

Next year, buy the pansies in the fall-they will last and even bloom in the winter and then you have them already placed in the spring.

littlebug - lol! OCD aside, I have seen gorgeous mixing of colors with zinnias (the really big ones) which I find very cheerful and quite stunning. Wish I could grow those well to get the same effect. But, alas...

dedtired - You are right about pansies usually giving up the ghost when hot&humid weather arrives here. BUT!! One of my new-found local nurseries surprised the heck out of me last summer -- they grow all their own plants, and it's a great place (where I spend far too much money), and they had a huge whiskey barrel full of only pansies that were thriving in hot direct sun all day -- in late June in Massachusetts. WOW!!!!

Roxanna…what is the nursery which you mentioned? I live near the Cape but will drive to a nice nursery. In a couple of weeks I will be making my yearly trek to Andrew’s in Amherst.

Barrheadlass ~ This nursery is right around the corner from my house! I believe it will open on May 1st. Perhaps you might like to stop here for a brief meet&greet on your way to Amherst. Then I could show you the way to the nursery.

I am nearly completely computer-illiterate, so if YOU know how to send me a private message thru this forum, maybe you and I could manage to email each other about my address -- and the nursery's location.

I only know about this place from a funny situation two years ago: my out-of-state sister was driving to come here, lost her way and stopped at this nursery to ask for directions (she was so close, lol). When sis arrived, she told me about the nursery, and how nice the folks had been, and they have had my business since!

They mainly grow annuals, and the plants are excellent quality. I go crazy there... =)

Neither of you has enabled messages on your Houzz page so neither of you can PM the other one. You’ll need to work out some other way of getting in touch.

Aha! Thank you, colleen. Told you I was deficient in technology, lol. This old dog's brain does not deal well with much of the 21st century... le sigh. And woe is me... =)

And I get to these forums by way of having bookmarked to my favorite places from the old GardenWeb site. I am fearful of losing this ability by doing anything more updated as regards the "new" owner... It ain't broke, so I'm not going to attempt anything fancy.

Thank you both!

Roxanna, could you just tell me the name od the nursery? I appreciate your invitaton.

Barrheadlass~ Nursery is Northside Farm at 273 Stafford St in Charlton MA. Hope you enjoy it!

Yes thanks Roxanna for nursery name. .did we once communicate about columbines? a visit never happened. i apologize in advance because i may well have you cofused with someone else. did you post series on the deveopment of your garden?. im thinking not, because individual had dozens and dozens of photos organized chronoloically, and youve about convinced me thats not your forte..

i wish i could have helped with your pansies. i enjoy working in other peoples gardens. However our Garden Club is having its ultra organized plant sale in two weeks and i must dig divisions in the mud in the wet garden . pThese folks are so organized they get the plants 2 weeks early so they aren't in shock ( plants not the people.) at the sale.

i hijacked your post. i apologize but wont delete it. it might get a couple more post which would be nice on the forum. Also for the appalling typing. The ” program ” deveoped hiccups and thres a moments delay after typing a bit. it messes with my brain causes typing errors. cant be bothered with fixing all the errors.

Roxanna…thank you!

^^^Marie ! Yes, I am certain that you and I have communicated before, quite some time ago. We never did manage to get together, and I am sorry about that. You would have been an enormous help in figuring out what I ought to do going forward in better ways to keep up my gardens! I remember some photos you shared of your own lovely gardens...

And, yes also - I am the person who wrote about 25 years of gardening - from the beginning to the demise! It amazes me that I WAS able to formulate and post that epistle. Sadly, while I fully intended to continue further with that extremely lengthy post, I let it slide and consequently have now forgotten just HOW I was able to insert the photos. As I recall now, it wasn't really that difficult at the time (as long as I didn't stop doing it), but at this moment, I am at a loss. I'd love to continue talking about the evolution to my gardens' present state of unkempt abandon. A sorry state of being, to be sure! But even tho my brain fizzles busily with ideas of what to do about the mess, my physical capabilities have waned dreadfully. GRRRR!!

What I really need now is a competent, knowledgeable actual gardener to come view this place and advise me about one particular garden area (a vast wilderness of uncontrolled dreadfulness) -- what plants to provide in a total reconstruction, AND some ability to to some of the real labor with/for me!! I have not yet figured out where to find such a person... OTOH, YOU would be great, perhaps -- if you live near enough and would like to fill that position, lol. Let's talk! (Seriously...)

Hope your adventure digging plants in this wet weather isn't too miserable! =)

(hijacking my own post here, LOL!)

P.S. -- anyone near me in the Worcester - Sturbridge MA area want any free Mayapple plants? Come and get 'em!!! PLEASE!!!!!! I have a plethora of them and will be forced to destroy hundreds in a garden that must have some "real estate" restored for other things to thrive...

^^^Barrheadlass ~ You are most welcome! I think you will like this nursery. Plants are great and so are the folks who run it. I have been there 5 times this week and have succeeded very nicely in spending down my childrens' inheritance, LOL. Such fun.... =)

I also make a yearly trip to Andrews in Amherst. I then go on to Laurenitis Farm in Sunderland which is just a small roadside place, but since it caters to the collegiate area it always has some interesting annuals or vegetables. I found it as I was driving down the road to Bay State Perennials one year and I never fail to stop by. I also stop at Skawski Farms in Hatfield which sells the more common designer single pot annuals for a discounted price. All these places have websites. I hope Barrheadlass sees this.

Asarum and Roxanna: I just saw this today. My friend drove us to Andrew’s and we went back roads as she avoids the Mass Pike…and we went through Charlton! I couldnt remember the name of the nursery, plus my friend didn’t want to stop anywhere. Thank you for the tips, asarum! Tomorrow I am going to Morrison’s in Plymouth, although I dont have room for anything, plus have a LOT from Andrew’s to plant…speaking of eyes bigger than the stomach.