"Surely as cometh the Winter, I know
There are Spring violets under the snow."
~ Robert Henry Newell (used pseudonym Orpheus C. Kerr)
(Spring Violets Under the Snow)
SONG OF THE VIOLET
A humble flower long time I pined
Upon the solitary plain,
And trembled at the angry wind,
And shrunk before the bitter rain.
And oh! 'twas in a blessed hour
A passing wanderer chanced to see,
And, pitying the lonely flower
To stoop and gather me.
~ William Makepeace Thackeray
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The VIOLET
Violet scientific classification:
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Violaceae
Genus: ViolaSpecies
List of Viola species
Violets (Viola) are a genus of flowering plants in the family Violaceae, with around 400-500 species throughout the world, mainly in the temperate Northern Hemisphere but also in Hawaii, Australasia, and the Andes in South America. They are typically found in moist and slightly shaded conditions such as hedgerows.
Most violets are small perennial plants, but a few are annual plants and some are small shrubs. They typically have heart-shaped leaves, and asymmetrical flowers with four upswept or fan-shaped petals, two each side, and one broad, lobed lower petal pointing downward. The shape of the petals defines many species, for example, some violets have a "spur" on the end of each petal. Flower colours vary in the genus; many are violet as their name suggests, and some are blue, some yellow, some white, some cream; some are bicolored, often blue and yellow.
Flowering is often profuse, and may last for much of the spring and summer.
One quirk of some violets is the elusive scent of their flowers; along with terpenes, a major component of the scent is a ketone compound called ionone, which temporarily desensitises the receptors in the nose; sniff all you like, you won't get any more smell from the flower.
Comments
Cameron
Frances
It has an ethereal quality to it.
K
Spring will come again :)
How true, Cameron. Suppose why often referred to as 'Sweet Violets' :)
With the way winter is going, Nancy, looks like it will be well into April before the even snow melts, although today is a balmy
42-degrees :)
Violets can certainly be rascals, Frances. Beautiful when they first bloom, I welcome them in early spring, tossing them in salads and using them candied in desserts ~ the rest of the gardening year consists of kicking them out from wherever they don't belong ... which seems to be everywhere!
Thank you, dear Karen, how lovely. The background is my snowy back yard, superimposed with one of my white violets.
Brenda
Thanks Brenda ... a lovely thought!
The violet is IL. state flower-it should be because in the spring they are every where. I always leave the most of them growing where they may. Such dainty blooms that last and last. Hopefully the groundhog will have some good news for us and spring won't be far off.
I planted violas under my shrubs and they've survived not only Chicago winters but if it's cool enough they bloom for a very long time. I also like the way they colonize to create a beautiful cloud of purple and yellow.
Welcome Gardeness and thank you. It was a joy visiting you as well.
Happy belated birthday, Anna ... we've celebrated many here this month also. Thank you for your kind words and please return. Enjoy your violets!
Thanks Philip ~ it was fun to create.
I'm so glad I remembered to post, Carolyn ... there is hope for me :) I agree, clouds of yellow and purle violas are stunning ... now, how's the 'Sweet Pea'?
Jan
Always Growing
Thank you for stopping by my blog. There were several pointsettias still blooming in my hometown and somehow they reminded me of you. Just shows how much I loved your pointsettia post!! I'm saving the shots for GBBD.