Gardeners before the 1830's didn't know pansies.  Instead they grew sweet violets and tiny violas such as the charming purple, yellow and cream Viola tricolor we know as heartsease or Johnny Jump Up.  In the hybridizing frenzy of the Victorian era an English gardener developed the first "show pansy" and the competition was on with clubs and societies vying to produce the perfect pansy.  We get to enjoy the results of this mania with today's pansy hybrids, Viola x wittrockiana.  Pansies are available in a rainbow of colors.  Some of the popular varieties that may be found in nurseries are the Crown and Crystal Bowl strains that have solid color faces, the Antique Shades series featuring pastel colors and the Majestic Giants series with bright bicolor blooms up to 4 inches across.  So many pansies, so few flower beds....and while you are pansy shopping, don't forget to look at pansy rings.  These flat, doughnut shaped vases are perfect for displaying your flowers indoors.

Still waiting for rain...
October is also the month to broadcast seeds throughout Texas flower beds.  When sprinkles are felt, Ann Marie rushes out with her packets of nigella, poppies, cornflower and larkspur and tosses the seeds in likely growing spots.  These plants will begin growing in the fall and provide airy blossoms before summer perennials take over the flower beds.  Planting in the rain starts the germination process and Ann Marie helps Mother Nature along by sprinkling newly sprouted plants daily to increase the survival rate.  October is also the month for planting bluebonnets.  Ann Marie is often asked to share her bluebonnet secrets with passers by.  Unfortunately, she doesn't know a magic chant or potion.  After years of trying various methods she finally had success and the bluebonnet patch carries on by itself.  It is located just east of a large cottonwood tree in an area covered with small bark chips.  During the bluebonnet growing season the site is sunny.  Ann Marie does keep falling leaves out of the bluebonnet area and waters it frequently once bluebonnets begin sprouting.  Although the soil is heavy clay, the bed is situated over the French drain and so is one of the better draining areas in the yard.

Use Your Herbs
Let a spicy pumpkin soup warm a cool autumn evening

Adobo Pumpkin Soup
1 medium size baking pumpkin
5 cloves garlic, separated but skin left on
Olive oil
2  cans nonfat chicken broth (29 ounces total)
1 teaspoon fresh thyme
1 teaspoon Adobo sauce (from a can of chipotles in adobo)
1/4 teaspoon coarse grind pepper
1 can (12 ounce) evaporated skim milk
croutons

Slice off top of pumpkin and remove seeds.  Place pumpkin and garlic cloves in a baking dish and drizzle with olive oil.  Bake at 375 degrees F for 1 hour or until pumpkin is tender.  Scrape flesh from the inside of the pumpkin.  Place flesh in a blender.  Squeeze roasted garlic from its paper cover into the blender.  Add chicken broth and puree.  Combine puree, thyme, adobo sauce and pepper in a sauce pan.  Simmer over low heat 30 minutes.  Stir in evaporated milk and heat just until warm.  Serve topped with croutons.