Roughly a month late, but here we are, our first good day of the year. The snow is finally gone, the lawns are getting dry, windows are open and we can get out and start getting ready for the good weather to follow.

In my travels today I stopped at a local garden market and picked up a couple of large pots of mixed pansies. I have them on the steps of a rustic old ladder that’s out in the garden, in full view from the kitchen.

It sure feels good to look out and see vibrant shades of spring instead of the dripping icicles that have traveled down that ladder for far too long this year.

Pansies are a great cool weather plant, they prefer this time of year over the heat of the summer when they start to struggle and the blooming slows down. They can even handle the morning frosts we’re still going to see for the next few weeks – pick some up and invite spring into your garden!