A Few Spring Violets

Every spring I love seeing all the little violets blooming in the woods. There are so many different varieties of them that sometimes it’s hard to tell them apart.

Here are some of the photos of early spring violets I’ve taken in recent years – with a bit of info about the various violets

Sweet White Violets – viola blanda – are known for their sweet fragrance and that the leaves and flowers reddish stalks. I’ve photographed Sweet White Violets several times in the mountains of Tennessee.

Sweet White Violets © 2010 Patty Hankins

Sweet White Violets © 2011 Patty Hankins

Long spurred violets – viola rostrata – known for their delicate lilac/purple blossoms with a long spur emerging from the back of the blossom. Again all of these were photographed in the mountains of East Tennessee.

Long Spurred Violet © 2011 Patty Hankins

Marsh Blue Violets – viola cucullata aiton – has dark blue/purple flowers with the blossoms and leaves growing on the same stems. Marsh Blue Violets are often found growing near streams.