That said, pansies (Viola x wittrockiana) don’t reliably keep coming back year after year unless ... and they bloom in shades ...

I brought home two trays of pansies and went on a planting frenzy, dragging an assortment of pots out of the garden shed, and bringing a splash of colour to the front door and garden near the road.

Most years I buy a few pots of pansies to start the season, putting them in containers on either side of our front walkway ...