Violas and Petunias in Fall and Winter Garden

These smaller violas - called Johnny-Jump-Ups - are one of my favorite fall, winter, and spring blooming annual.  They come in a variety of colors - yellow, white, purple, orange - and a mixture of these colors - are available as transplants in nurseries now.  Plant in sun and light shade now to enjoy throughout the fall, winter and spring seasons.  A good companion to violas are petunias.  Petunias are considered a spring and summer annual in many parts of the country but do very well during our typically mild winters.  They bloom much better and look best before heat sets in during late spring and summer.  Petunias come in MANY colors.  They make great additions to hanging baskets or pots due to their trailing growth habit.