Violets perk up look of any garden

Of all the flowers that linger this late in the season, Johnny-jump-ups are among the best.

Alyssum's flowers also last, but begin to look ragged by now. Chrysanthemums have the opposite fault, staring out too bright-eyed and stiff, seeming almost lifeless.

Johnny-jump-ups, originally from Europe, are a type of wild violet whose small flowers may not be flamboyant, but even now pulse with life.

In good weather, they look perky; rain, wind, and cold leave them only temporarily ragged. The flowers have the same winsome look as pansies, their cultivated cousins. You may get Johnny-jump-ups without even planting them, as offspring of pansies.

Johnny-jump-ups thrive under a range of conditions. Still, they prefer a soil that has plenty of humus to keep it well-aerated and moist.

Shade from hot afternoon sun completes this picture of Johnny-jump-up heaven.

Besides their showy flowers, violets also produce flowers that self-pollinate without any help.

Success with Johnny-jump-ups may very well prompt you to expand your repertoire of wild violets. For your nose, how about the old-fashioned Sweet Violet, once used for fragrant nosegays?