We all love violets, right? Subtle clusters of purple, lavender, pink or white hiding in the woods. In Victorian times they symbolised modesty and humility, the ideal woman, and were extremely popular cut flowers.
When I arrived on the scene at Struan Farm, I remember asking my mother-in-law Rosemary if there were any violets around, that they might be a nice addition to the gardens. She indicated that they were about somewhere, although she couldn't remember exactly where.
After spending an entire day on my hands and knees digging out violets this past week, I think of this and laugh! I admire Rosemary's gentle diplomacy, her restraint in not letting on to an inexperienced flower gardener that violets are basically (yet another) rampant weed. She let me learn about that as I've come to know the gardens at Struan Farm.
So now I know the dark side of violets-- they spread everywhere and takeover if left unrestrained. They are not modest at all, the shameless hussies!
what a scream!
Posted by: Katherine Scott | 04/14/2014 at 10:23 AM