Viola plants are the first and last flower to bloom for many in the garden, and when the fresh blossoms are kept cut so that they do not go to viola seeds.I’ve seen viola blooms every month of the gardening season! Violas are smaller flowered than pansies and more persistent.The most common viola, the Johnny jump up, may grow no more than three inches tall with tiny half-inch deep purple petals.

Question: I know there are many types of tree and plant injury out of man’s control.However, what are the best steps, precautions and preventive measures to take to protect the trees and shrubs in our landscape? Renee, St. Louis, MissouriAnswer: Renee, what a great question and one I wish more would consider.

Like every other aspect of caring for the Knockout rose winter care is simple and straightforward.The Knock Out rose introduced by Will Radler in 1989 is very hardy in mild climates. However, disease resistant Knock out roses do require some special care in areas that experience very cold temperatures and/or high winds in the winter.

Dendromecon Rigida den-droh-MEE-kon RIG-ih-duh is an evergreen shrub requiring plenty of space.Rigida produces large blooms of yellow flowers in the spring and summer.You’ll probably see Rigida labeled as the common names:Bush poppyTree poppyIsland bush poppyIt’s one of the larger species in the Papaveraceae family, better known as the poppy family.

Salvia chamaedryoides SAL-vee-uh, kam-ay-dry-OY-deez has evergreen foliage and bright blue flowers.It spreads easily, providing interesting ground cover for any garden or landscape.Salvia chamaedryoides is part of the salvia plant genus, typically called the sage genus.It also has a few common names:Germander sageMexican blue sageBlue oak sageThe plant is part of the Lamiaceae (mint) family of plants.

Centaurea cyanus (aka Bachelor Button, Bluebottle or Cornflower) is a hardy, carefree annual flower.The drought-tolerant naturalized wildflower comes in several attractive shades of pink, red, purple and blue.Once planted, this tall, hardy, self-seeding, Bachelor Button plant returns year after year, providing valuable food and habitat for birds, bees and butterflies along with a host of other pollinators.