Thrifty Thinking

Stars of the spring garden, sweetfaced pansy blooms can brighten your indoor environment as well— whether freshly picked, pressed and dried, or crafted from paper.

Matthew Mead provides ideas for enhancing your spring home with decor that makes the most of pretty pansies.

In the earliest days of gardening season, there is only one flowering plant that truly fits the bill for budget-conscious growers—the pansy. Inexpensive, easy to find and a dream to care for, the pansy brings colorful and abundant blooms to any country setting. Available in flats or trays featuring a mix of hues, pansies are easy to find at garden centers or grocery stores, beginning around Mother’s Day in much of the United States. The petite posies contribute a vibrant touch at a time when most other garden favorites are still weeks away from breaking into bloom.

Picking blossoms generates the production of more flowers, providing an ample supply for decorating—another winning feature of these plants. You can also press and dry blooms for use in all kinds of projects, or extend the pansy’s vibrant reign for even longer by crafting paper replicas.