Out On A Limb / February-March 2009
February's Flower: Violets
Is the rose the traditional flower of Valentine’s Day, or is it the violet? As the legend of St. Valentine goes, this Christian priest used the ink made from crushed violet blossoms that grew outside his prison cell to write notes of love and friendship. He wrote these words on violet leaves. These notes were delivered to St. Valentine’s friends via the elegant bird of love, the dove. Violets were once the most popular flower on Valentine’s Day; however, roses are an enduring symbol of deep love.
Fun Facts about Violets:
Violets represent faithfulness and “I return your love”.
It is thought that to dream of violets predicts advancement in life.
As love needs clean, clear air to flourish, so does the violet.
This flower shows its esteem as the state floral emblem of Wisconsin, Rhode Island, Illinois and New Jersey.
During the Napoleonic era when Napoleon was exiled to Elba he used a code name of Caporal Violette.
How to Grow Violets:
1. Select a proper location. Violets need to be grown in a semi-shaded position but are fairly tolerant as long as they are kept from drying out. Protect them from the hot afternoon sun in hot climates but feel free to grow them in full sun if you live in a cooler climate.
2. Choose good soil. Soil pH should be around 6.0 - 7.5, and it should be well-drained. If they are being grown in the open, the violets prefer a moderately heavy rich soil.
3. Propagate by dividing old
violet plants. If you already have some established violet plan, use these for propagation. Simply break off a small section that has roots, pot it up for a few weeks until established and then plant out.
4. Space your violet plants about 20-30 cm apart.
5. Water well. In order to grow most efficiently, violets require a moist soil and should not be allowed to dry out.
6. Keep your violets free of weeds.
Tips:
Violets are hardy and can tolerate frosts to about -29ºC.
Culinary uses of violets include for candied violets, fresh violets in salads and sandwich fillings and as cake decorations. The leaves are quite small, around 3-5cm in diameter, but are produced in abundance and are easy to harvest. As far as taste goes, they have a very mild, almost bland flavor and can be used to add variety and beauty to many kinds of salads. The texture is slightly tough, however, so it is advisable to mix them in well with other leaves.
Sweet violets have various other uses in the garden, including various medicinal uses. For example, they have a strong folk reputation in the treatment of cancer and whooping cough.
Violets also contain salicylic acid, which is used to make aspirin, and so they can be effective in the treatment of headaches, migraine and insomnia. An essential oil from the flowers and leaves is used in perfumery, and the flowers themselves are sometimes used to flavor breath fresheners.
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