Heirloom Blooms—A Walk through a Field of Vintage Violets

Wood violets are the official flower of Wisconsin.  They’re not just a symbol of our state—they’re a signal that spring has returned with its palette of vivid colors. 

​On a walk I was surprised to find something I’ve never seen before—pink violets!  I thought that they must be pink because of a mutation or a variation in the soil’s pH or composition, but I was wrong.

This is an example of Viola odorata rosea, a sweet, fragrant type of violet popular at the end of the 19th century for perfume and floral arrangements.  Its edible flowers can be candied.  How sweet is that? It was amazing to find a vintage variety.

​Growing heirloom blooms is an important part of maintaining plant biodiversity.  I’ll wait for these plants to seed and add this variety to my garden.