Sweet violet

[vaneramos]

At the end of our lawn, at the top of the bluff overlooking Lake Erie, was a spring garden under the silver poplars. As a child I loved their modest little faces, mostly purple, but a few white with purple throats.

When I was about 11 I planted an herb garden. I don't know where the interest came from. My parents were avid gardeners, but they never took much interest in herbs. Mom gave me a patch of garden around the hydrangea bush by the driveway. I transplanted a shoot of sweetbrier (Rosa eglanteria) that grew on the bluff, and started all the rest of my herbs from seeds.

I wanted to make potpourri. You would think my parents would have guessed I was not an average boy.





One plant I craved but never obtained was sweet violet (Viola odorata). In those days they were difficult to find. I heard they had a fine fragrance. None of the wild violets that grew at Poplar Bluff or in the woods at the cottage seemed to have any smell. My enlightenment would not come until many years later.

About four years ago in fact. I was shopping in Toronto's Old Cabbagetown with Martin and Daniel when I found old-fashioned violet-flavoured candies. I had to buy a tin. The flavour/fragrance was powdery sweet, vaguely familiar. It reminded me of old ladies with lace handkerchiefs drinking tea in dim parlours.

A couple years ago I found this patch of violets in the woods by the Eramosa River. They didn't seem to have a fragrance, but I picked one and put it in my pocket. A day later I found it and pulled it out. Then that powdery aroma filled the room. I don't know whether these are V. odorata, or whether drying is the secret to releasing the wonderful scent from other violets as well, but it works with these ones.

I forgot to put one in my pocket today. I was distracted with taking their picture.

Comments

[khema.livejournal.com]

I love the word "violet". And the scent is divine, too. But for me, it's all about the word. :)

K

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Many of my favourite words have the letter V in them, like verdant.

[art-thirst.livejournal.com]

Now I see where we might have some similar backgrounds. My grandparents were the gardeners. They had what I thought were huge gardens with delicious fresh food. The house I visited over Christmas had apple trees, a peach tree, cherry tree, grape vines and a nice garden when I was less than a teen. My father's father had a garden in his apt. He had corn, tomatoes, okra, green beans, watermelon, collard greens and I can't remember what else. My mother had her rose garden in Calif. I never had a garden but was always getting my hands in the dirt. I thought is was my duty to make sure my mother's roses were doing okay and I'd check them as much as her. I was telling my aunt over Christmas that my memories of Ohio are at the house where she's still living. It reminds me of all that's good: close, warm, family, good homecooked, hearty, healthy food, nice neighbors, and carefree life (as a child, naturally). :-)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

My parents always had, and still have, a large ornamental garden. They never grew vegetables themselves until I planted a large vegetable garden in my teens (that came after the herbs). After I left home, Mom continued to grow tomatoes and squash for a few years, but stopped once Dad became semi-retired, and they began spending weeks at a time at the cottage during July and August.

My father's father was the only one in my family who took much interest in vegetables. He was weeding his tomatoes the day before he died in his sleep. He was a hard-nosed workaholic but in old age took a fond interest in his youngest grandchild, who happened to be me, so I loved him dearly.

I am still having a hard time reconciling the good aspects of my childhood with the fact that I often felt invisible and lonely, especially since my family relations fell apart a few years ago. Things are slowly reconciling with my parents, so I find it easier to see them in a better light. It doesn't change the fact my family was physically tender but emotionally aloof and repressive.

[e-musings.livejournal.com]

great picture--my favorite flower are violets.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Choosing my favourite would be a toughie! :-)

[e-musings.livejournal.com]

when i got married, i wanted a bouquet of lillies of the valley and violets...but i am not sure why that didn't happen, but it didn't (i suspect my mom must have overrode that decision)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

They're weedy here, too. Some gardeners hate them, but to me there are few things lovelier than a tribe of violets invading a lawn!