Memory of Violets

I've been looking over my African violets in front of the dining room window.  Though we are in the season when we have daylight for the least amount of time, the violets seem to do well when there's lots of snow outside the window to intensify the light a little.  This may not be scientific, but it seems to me that my violets perk up when there's lots of snow.

Now I'm thinking of the wild violets that I hunted in my youth. I've always been fond of violets and I think perhaps it's because we hunted them, my brother and I, in the deep ravine beside Uncle Howard's place.  Now this would contradict my theory of violets responding to the light of the bright, white snow, because it seems to me that the biggest, prettiest violets grew in the shade.  But, it's possible that my memory is not correct.  And it's possible that the needs of African violets, concerning light, are completely different than wild violets in spring.  Their other needs are different, so possibly their light requirements are different, also.

It was neat this morning to sit here and notice the curve of the violet petals as it reached toward the light.  The violet is such a delicate flower.  It comes in many shades of blue, pink, purple, white, and even yellow, and each is lovely in its own way.  Is it any wonder that I keep starting new plants when leaves get broken off my plants?  Long live the violet, whatever shade it is!

Posted by: NJ on 12/17/2003 11:29:48 AM , 2 comments