Violets are native, herbaceous perennials that are their own family within the plant kingdom. The most common species in Ontario is the Wooly Blue (sometimes Common blue). It prefers damp woodlands and forest floors — exactly the environment behind our home where, unsurprisingly, several species of Violet flourish.
Fun Fact: Violets use their local ant population as personal couriers. Violet seeds have a unique, sweet, oil-rich coating that tempts the ants. They gather the seeds, carry them back to their underground nests, eat the sweet coating, and leave the seed safe in the dirt to grow into a brand-new flower! Rather than discarded garden waste (an enormous problem in rural Ontario), this explains how the garden cultivars of the Violet family become quickly, easily, and prolifically rewilded.
The three native species in our wee patch of the Carolinian are:
These blossoms are dark purple and bluish purple.
This is Ontario’s most common native violet.
This is a dainty flower that has white petals and purple stripes.
Forest Jewels
Little shoes go pit-a-pat,
Through the woods so green!
Where the prettiest violets sit,
Fit for a tiny queen.
Some wear gowns of purple-dark,
Some choose sunny yellow,
Winking at the passing birds,
And every forest fellow!
They bloom all through the summer days,
As faithful as can be,
Just to nod their happy heads,
And smile at you and me!
There was a wee girlie (granddaughter of one of our neighbours) in the woods picking Violets and she inspired this poem. She wasn’t there long — the forest floor teems with Poison Ivy — so her dad quickly scooped her up and whisked her out of danger.
’Til next time, y’all…
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