Arlene Wright-Correll

The Beauty of the Common Violet©



Posted: Saturday, September 06, 2008

by
http://www.learn-america.com

I don't know where they came from. I don't think I ever planted them and at first I spent a great deal of time pulling them out like weeds. However, over the past 8 or 9 years I have let these little "nuisances" have their own way and I have discovered that these Common Violets make a wonder ground cover.

The artist in me loves the purple of them against the hard, shiny green leaf and they spread by dropping their seeds and go from there. The Common Violet is very hardy and of course is a perennial. As I said I have no idea how and when they arrived in my garden, but they have won out and they are here to stay. Each year there are more and more of them and they are a welcomed sight at the end of March when they start coming up in the darndest places. This year they have filled up the whole area under the roses bushes in front of the Garden Cottage taking away the starkness of the bare stalks of those thorny bushes that have yet to develop leaves and eventually fill the whole area with their wild looking roses.

Though the Common Violet prefers shade, because our zone 6 climate in our area of Kentucky gives us lots of April showers they seem to thrive and thrive.

You can grow seedling indoors as long as you maintain the temperature at 70 Fahrenheit in order to allow them to sprout.

After they have sprouted it is a good idea to put them in a container or window box as they will be very attractive there and once they have stopped blooming you can remove them and then transplant them in those bare spots around your garden where they will take hold and multiply next year and every year after that.

Each March and early April you can divide your Common Violets and replant them in other places such as along shaded fences, under your berry bushes or around your shrubs and just watch them flourish and increase each year.

Common Violets are subject to fungal infection whether they are currently growing in your garden or even if you buy some at your local nursery. The common sign of fungal infection is leaf spot which is dark brown spots on yellowing leaves. Cut out immediately and destroy them. Do not drop onto the ground or throw in your compost pile.

As I said I have no idea how these little beauties entered my garden, but I do enjoy seeing them each spring and they are all over the place now and I welcome them.

"Tread the Earth Lightly" and in the meantime May your day be filled with Peace, Light and Love,

Author's note: This article was originally written for GreenThumbArticles.com

About the Author & Artist. Arlene Wright-Correll (1935- ___), popular American award winning Artist, published author, columnist, & is the resident art instructor for Avalon Stained Glass School, at the age of 68, decided to pick up her paint brushes again after 54 years and paint.  She is a cancer and stroke survivor who is able to strive forward each and everyday to welcome the beauty of this small planet.  She also is a China & Porcelain painter, Sandblasting & Etching, Stained Glass & fused glass Artisan. She is one of the six KY Artists who worked 6 months to create the dolls for Journey Jots in 2006 and a Smithsonian Institute art exhibit in 2008. Her published books can be found here . She is also a featured writer for GreenThumbArticles.com and teaches Art Vacation Holidays at Avalon Stained Glass School and Creativity Center.

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