Betting on Pansies

When we first moved to the Washington, D.C. area from New England, I was surprised at the fall planting of pansies. Won't they just be clobbered by snow and ice? Isn't it tempting fate to assume the winter will be warm?

One year I planted ornamental cabbage, the white kind with a sweet lavender center. That was as close as I've come to winter plantings.

But this year pansies have flourished. In fact, they're in danger of being overrun by the early blooming of daffodils and witch hazel. Winter is taking a nap this year.