STITCH LINES...... Ramblings on life as a quilter, stitcher, traveler, photographer, gardener and lover of books, cats and fine chocolate....

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Wildflower Wednesday

Once again, a wildflower for you to enjoy. This is one of my favourite spring wildflowers and it's easy to find here in the Maritimes.. in fact, they grow right on my back lawn. Hubby, the lover of  "picture perfect" lawns, would happily spray to get rid of these "weeds" but I plead with him each year to "leave my violets alone!!" This is viola cucullata, better known as the Purple Violet, the floral emblem of New Brunswick. Also known as Blue Violet and Wood Violet, it grows in damp woodlands,  meadows, fields and along roadsides. And in my backyard (yay!!) It is a
small low- growing plant, the
blooms being about 1/2" - 3/4", but if left alone, it will develop into a nice clump. I'm thinking of digging a few out of the lawn and planting them in my perennial bed. The purple violet was adopted as the official floral emblem of N.B. in 1936, and is also the state flower of Illinois, Wisconsin, Rhode Island and New Jersey! It has no scent but the young leaves and the flowers are edible. You can see the wonderful veining in the petals and the tiny white "fringe" in the throat of each little blossom - such beauty!





Peace,
Linda

Violets

I had no thought of violets of late,
The wild, shy kind that spring beneath your feet
In wistful April days, when lovers mate
And wander through the fields in raptures sweet.
The thought of violets meant florists’ shops,
And bows and pins, and perfumed papers fine;
And garish lights, and mincing little fops
And cabarets and songs, and deadening wine.
So far from sweet real things my thoughts had strayed,
I had forgot wide fields, and clear brown streams;
The perfect loveliness that God has made.—
Wild violets shy and Heaven-mounting dreams.
And now—unwittingly, you’ve made me dream
Of violets, and my soul’s forgotten dream.
~ Alice Dunbar-Nelson

8 comments:

Pamela Gordon said...

Beautiful photos of our provincial flower. I have them in my lawn too and had them under the juniper tree in the shade. The dog may have peed on them too many times as I don't see them this year. Yet. The dog is living at our son's now. There is hope. :)

Karen said...

Lovely photos. I have these all over the lawn too - hard to keep them in the beds!

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

My father in law calls them weeds. My husband has learned his lesson well...violets are my very favorite flower.

MissesStitches said...

Truly beautiful. You are lucky to have them in your lawn. Your husband will just have to put up with them! How long do they bloom? I do think your idea of digging out a few and starting a bed of violets is a good one.

Sandy aka Doris the Great said...

I love the voilets as well.

Marie Alton said...

Ahhh yes ... one of the faithful spring beauties that pop up where they will ... in your lawn is typical ... they're survivors ... and share their sweet beauty wherever for a short time each spring. It is right to appreciate them ... and to let them share their beauty with us for that time.
The lawn can be mowed later.

Susan Elliott said...

We don't have so many violets around any more so I'm grateful to be able to check yours out!

P.S. I have a favor to ask so I'll email you separately...

GailM. said...

Oh nice. The photos of your violets look a lot nicer than my violets.. I didn't know there was such a thing as a white violet until you told me that today... That's good to know. I'm going to try to impress my sister with my new knowledge....

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