flower power no more

i buy vintage and antique stampings for enameling from my supplier in manhattan...these little flowers are an example of what i buy from him: so cute and they can be made into post or dangle earrings, pendants, rings: whatever! but oh no: he has finally run out and my little flower power line must come to an end.

i saved this last one for me!

pansies

pansies are so awesome: why are they associated with light-weights? my first flower box planting of the year is pansies! why? last year when the weather broke, i planted amazingly decorative sweet potatoes: 9 inches of rain followed by a freeze later: my potatoes were dead...so this year: i am starting with the velvety flowers that can cope with the unpredictable ups and downs we call 'weather'.