Native Wood Violet

The first time I saw a native wood violet, it did not look like a violet to me. I thought it was more like a miniature iris.

It had sprung up from the unmown lawn, and I could not see its leaves, so the blades of grass that  surrounded it seemed like the foliage around a miniature iris. But as beautiful as it was, it was cut down as soon as the grass was mowed. I did not think I would see another one so soon.

Then yesterday evening, as I was walking in the woods, I spotted a violet by a tree trunk. Because there was no grass to hide the violet’s leaves, I recognized it at once!

It reminded me of one of Wordsworth’s Lucy poems: “A violet by a mossy stone, half hidden from the eye, bright as a star, when only one is shining in the sky.”

A big part of the violet’s attraction is that it does not try to draw attention to itself. It lives in hidden places, and very few of them are seen at all. If you have spotted a Native Wood Violet in its natural habitat, consider yourself very lucky.

If you have not, you can share this experience with a friend through these inexpensive photo postcards.

Native Wood Violet Hidden in the Woods Postcard

Native Wood Violet Postcard