Viola
Viola
is a genus of flowering plants in the violet family Violaceae.
It is
the largest genus in the family, containing between 525 and 600 species
Scientific name: Viola reichenbachiana
Scent: Unique, sweet, powdery, sublime
I would like to share my love of all things violet
with you, as I adore their scent, their multitude of colors and their old fashioned goodness!
I hope you enjoy their beauty
and the many ways in which they can be used.
Gorgeous
Vintage Violet Door Stop
SWEET VIOLET
Sweet violet is a herb. The root and parts that grow above the ground are used for medicinal purposes.Sweet violet has been used for ;
- stress
- physical and mental exhaustion
- symptoms of menopause
- depression
- irritability
- digestive tract complaints
- respiratory tract conditions
The scent of violet is truly sublime!
Gorgeous Vintage Prints of the
Fragrant Viola!
Path of violets
In sunshine or in shadow how rich the loamy soil
light of earth, dream of rebirth greening
lilac buds and bluebells ring
magenta hills, aubretia spring
of burning fire
A mossy path of violets, soft my feet to wander
muscari blue the garden dew
birds to drink of leafy puddles
bluest skies go grey, drifts so swift a rain cloud by
to water quick the daffodil, silk umbrellas yellow
and comes alas the greening grass
robins hopping, weaving
Spring unfurls in flowery births
tiny violets upon the earth
light of earth, dream of rebirth greening
lilac buds and bluebells ring
magenta hills, aubretia spring
of burning fire
A mossy path of violets, soft my feet to wander
muscari blue the garden dew
birds to drink of leafy puddles
bluest skies go grey, drifts so swift a rain cloud by
to water quick the daffodil, silk umbrellas yellow
and comes alas the greening grass
robins hopping, weaving
Spring unfurls in flowery births
tiny violets upon the earth
CA Guilfoyle
Aug 13, 2013
A Heart of Violets!
Knitted & Crocheted beauties!
How Adorable!
How Gorgeous!
Homespun Goodness!
How Clever!
This is on my project list. . .
Pretty Colors
A Beautiful Low Maintenance
Pot Plant Which Adds A Warm Homespun Feel To A Window Sill
Pretty Planters
What A Great Way To Recycle
The Humble Tea Pot!
The Edible Violet !
Beautiful Macaroons
Yummy Violet Sponge!
Violet Short breads
Violet & Rose Ice Cubes
Violet Butter Frosting
Pretty Violet Cupcakes!
Old Fashioned
Sweet Violet Syrup Recipe
Ingredients
40 to 50g Sweet violets (about 3 to 4 handfuls)
150ml Boiling water
300g White caster sugar
Strain the violet mixture through a fine sieve, then bottle and label the syrup and keep in a cool place, or the fridge for up to 12 months. Use in cakes, scones, pancakes, icings, butter creams, ice creams, biscuits, beverages, cream puddings, custards, cakes etc.
Violet
Meringues!
Ingredients
Basic Meringue Recipe
My basic rule of thumb recipe for meringues, is for every 1 Egg White to use 1/4 cup of Castor Sugar
I also add a tiny splash of white vinegar for acid to strengthen the protein and a good pinch of of cornflour to prevent any weeping- just in case there are a few stray sugar crystals
You can also add a small amount of liquid flavoring- for this 2 egg white quantity I used 1 tablespoon, and some color as well. Just make sure that they aren't oil based or the mixture won't whip. (The oil based essence you can see here, I added carefully after beating and quickly marbled through just before baking)
I also used some gorgeous candied violets to add extra yumminess and a bit of texture on top
Whisk egg whites until they froth, then add the sugar, vinegar and cornflour
Beat until thick, white and glossy
Add in your violet flavoring syrup and mix through
Spoon out onto tray lined with baking paper
Decorate with crystallized violets
Spoon out onto tray lined with baking paper
Decorate with crystallized violets
Violet Jelly
2 cups packed violet blossoms, stems removed
2 cups boiling water
1. Pour the boiling water over the violets and allow them to steep at least 2 hours, overnight is best. Squeeze the water from the violets, and measure out 1 3/4 cups violet infusion. It will be very dark blue.
1 3/4 cups violet infusion
1/4 cup lemon juice
4 cups. sugar
Pectin (3 oz.)
2. Put the violet infusion, lemon juice, and sugar in a large pot. Bring it up to a rolling boil.
3. Add the pectin, and bring the mixture back up to a rolling boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
3. Remove the jelly from the heat and ladle into hot, sterilised jars. Cover, and process in a water bath for 10 minutes.
Violet Sugar
A delightful old-fashioned floral sugar that is wonderful when added to cakes, biscuits, desserts, custards, ice creams as well as home-made chocolates and sweets.
Ingredients
Fresh sweet violets (pesticide free)caster sugar
Directions
| Take a clean, sterile jar and layer the fresh violets in the jar with alternating layers of caster sugar. | |
| Seal and allow to infuse for a week, in a dark cool place. | |
| After a week the sugar can be used in cakes, bakes, desserts, ice creams etc, The violets can be left in for a stronger flavour; sieve the sugar before using. |
African Violets
Caring for African Violets
The African violets are undoubtedly among the cheeriest indoor plants
available, yet people are sometimes disappointed with their
performance. To help you grow better African violets, Don looked at some
of the more common problems with this plant and how to overcome them.
Lighting: The lack of good light is one of the main
reasons that African violets do not produce flowers indoors. Light helps
feed the plants and they'll starve if left in a dark spot. African
violet leaves become ratty and horrible as they feebly reach out towards
the light, desperate for sustenance.
The best position for your African violet is within 30cm (12") of
a window. If the window is facing north, and therefore gets the very
hot sun, you may need to screen the window with a sheer curtain or blind
as the strong northern light will burn the plants.
Water worries: Overwatering is the most common
killer of African violets. To overcome this use one of the wick watering
systems available. The wick passes through the bottom of the pot and
into a reservoir of water at its base. Here the wick soaks up water as
the plant needs it.
Ordinary potting mixes are not well enough aerated for African
violets so you may want to use one of the special mixes available. Debco
African Violet and Gloxinia Mixture is a reliable mixture although you
may wish to add more perlite or vermiculite to lighten the mix.
Fertilising: You can fertilise your plants two
or three times a year. There are special African violet fertilisers
(such as the Kenrose African Violet Fertiliser) on the market available
at garden centres. Alternatively use Aquasol or Nitrosol.
Plant details
Common name: African violet
Botanical name: Saintpaulia ionantha. Named
after Baron Walter von Saint Paul, who first discovered this plant. This
plant is native to tropical East Africa. As this plant requires mild to
warm temperatures and filtered light it is usually seen as an indoor
plant.
Varieties and colours: There are many different
hybrids on the market with flower colours ranging from white through to
shades of pink, purple, blue, red and more recently, yellow (although
this flower colour is still extremely rare). Small golden pollen sacks
are conspicuous in the centre of the flowers which may be single,
double, bi-coloured or fringed and which are held aloft on a pale green
fleshy stalk. The round or oval leaves are usually covered with velvety
hairs and are paler underneath. Some trailing forms are also available.
Pretty Violets
Violet Goodness!
 | ||
| "forgiveness is the perfume of the violet on the heel that crushed it,"  |
I hope I have inspired you to plant, pick, use, sniff or taste violet or violet products!
Violets are a true blessing!
