Wild Violets Sweet Violets

When I was a child I dug up a small plant with purple flowers and brought it home. That plant was a wild violet, Viola odorata, sometimes called sweet violet. I didn't know the plant would multiply. By the end of the summer every windowsill in our home was filled with wild violet plants. My mother started giving violet plants to everyone she knew.

Yesterday I noticed the corner to our road is covered with wild violets. I ran out to take a photo to show you because we are expecting a bit of a cold snap. While I was researching information about the wild violet I found a blog post here about wild violet syrup. Since the plant is hardy and spreads easily I may harvest a bunch of the flowers and make some wild violet syrup. I hope the flowers last through the cold tonight.

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The Violet
BY JANE TAYLOR

Down in a green and shady bed,

   A modest violet grew,

Its stalk was bent, it hung its head,

   As if to hide from view.

And yet it was a lovely flower,

   Its colours bright and fair;

It might have graced a rosy bower,

   Instead of hiding there,

Yet there it was content to bloom,

   In modest tints arrayed;

And there diffused its sweet perfume,

   Within the silent shade.

Then let me to the valley go,

   This pretty flower to see;

That I may also learn to grow

   In sweet humility.

While I was taking photos of the flowers I noticed leaves which looked like strawberry leaves and leaves of a bulb type of plant. I'll have to take a walk there often and keep my eyes open. If you have time look closely underfoot and at every turn, you never know what you may find. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

UPDATE - THINK THIS IS VIOLA TRILOBA