What about February's Flower of the Month...the Violet?
Typically, not thought of as a February flower or as a bouquet gift unless the sweetheart's name is Violet or Viola...or...the recipient is an avid 'Saintpaulia' grower/collector/fan.
Saintpaulia is the botanical name for African Violets, and yes, I have had a collection of them, and no, I was never a member of the African Violet Society of America....but my Aunt Bea was.
Before I knew it, shelves of violets took over every appropriately sun lite window, and when that space was over run, out came UV Grower Bulbs to hang over more shelves. I read and collected books on How To Grow Violets, bought Violet Pots, Violet Potting Soil, Violet Food, and of course more Violets...usually ones that were on their last living leaf and bloom. After Easter is a good time to find bargain violets.
Aunt Bea and her violets have also been the inspiration for several posts here on CollectInTexas Gal.
The Vast Violet Veranda
The Letter V...AtoZ 2014
Both of my Grandmothers had African Violets growing on their window sills in McCoy vases. I have tried but to no luck!
ReplyDeleteMcCoy made some of the earliest pots for African violets. I had several, and like your grandmother, they did well on the window sill.
DeleteThose were the only plants my mother could grow. She (and I) have brown thumbs. Mom would pretty much ignore them, and they would thrive, much to the chagrin of her African Violet growing friend (UV lights, special feed, etc) I could do the same with my roses in San Angelo.
ReplyDeleteThe African Violet gods must have been watching over your Mother's plants. No other way to explain it.
DeleteOh yes, I've also done the African Violet thing. I finally let them bite the dust. I over mothered them until they made me nervous. I've always loved the kind of violets pictured on the little pitcher.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good word to describe those who care for those persnickety violets...nervous. I am partial to the tiny purple blooms, too.
DeleteI like violets more than roses. Lovely pictures - the purples are so rich.
ReplyDeleteThat's funny that HiHoney had to make a comment about the overflowing of African violets. I don't have places for them, or I might overdo, too!
ReplyDeleteStop in from Alamma blog. I've done so so with African violets. But notice some people have crocus poking though.
ReplyDeleteA sure sign spring is on the way.
Coffee is on
Hi Sue - I have actually managed to keep some Africa Violets alive in recent years (two I believe!) .. but I love seeing the wild violets in the hedgerows ... and then the sugared violets ... my father used to bring those and sugared rosepetals back from London .. they were delicious for a brief time - til the sugar set in!! Cheers Hilary
ReplyDelete