Allow me to introduce you to my new favorite non-native (but edible!) plant. It was the scent, I'm telling you. As soon as I bumped my nose to the flower, I was hooked. It's an indescribably beautiful thing, like touching angora for the first time. Gentle, soft and completely pleasant. I immediately had it in my mind that I needed half a dozen and that I would candy them and throw a tea party in their honor. Or violet jellies! Oh crap, I'm getting too excited about this. This link talks about various things violets are used for. There are also native Violas, but I haven't done too much research on them.
I wish I could spend more time telling you all about the growing conditions and where to buy them, but I am in hummingbird mode this week with tons of planting. Please allow me to zoom away- I'll be hovering around more next week!
Yay! Violets were always my favorite flower growing up, and they are great candied. There are also a couple of violet liqueurs out there that are delicious in cocktails.
ReplyDeleteSo, I'd just like to say one thing about the CA native violets: DO NOT PLANT THEM. They reseed like crazy. They look good for about 4 weeks of the year, middling for a few months, and really horrible for the rest. And I found them impossible to eradicate by conventional means.
ReplyDeleteWell, thanks for introducing me to it, Hannah! Do you think violet ice cream would work?
ReplyDeleteTown Mouse- I can always count on you and your mousey counterpart for invaluable information. My native violet research is quickly coming to an end before it's even begun! Thanks for saving me from the evil violets!
Speaking of violets...Christine, I have some news! You were right, our mystery plant from last fall is indeed the native Viola ocellata! Stop by our blog when you get a chance, I just posted some photos of the first blooms!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that native violets don't look so good in a garden. They are pretty on the trail to be sure. Perfume is so powerful, I love your description of being in love with this scent, Christine! I have also deep ingrained scent pleasures, mostly from childhood, such as hyacinths and sweet peas and of course - roses.
ReplyDeleteClare- thanks for a great native violet post! So glad I could help!
ReplyDeleteCM- Maybe it warrants more investigation regarding growing the native violets in the garden. Thanks for the reminder of the importance of scent- a spring without sweet peas is a poor spring indeed! And I have to say- I almost always stop to smell the roses! Especially Double Delight.