Mon cœur est un bouquet de violettes
The history of the pansy is linked forever to the viola, its ancestor. Viola is a large genus containing 500 species according to Hortus Third. Violas were familiar to people living in Greece in the 4th century B.C.
The centre of origin for violas was continental Europe. The hardy but delicate viola was cultivated by the Greeks for herbal medicinal use and much later inspired William Shakespeare to write of romance.
Some time after the 4th century B.C. in Europe, an acute observer noticed a plant similar to a viola but growing in open areas with more sunlight. This plant thrived in alpine meadows and on rocky ledges. Someone named this plant a wild pansy. Possibly, it was a person living in France who noticed this plant because the word pansy is traced back to the French word pensée, meaning thought or remembrance.
The wild pansy bloom was larger and more round than violas.
These lightly scented flowers are available in a huge range of colours. The dark centres in some flowers are thought to resemble little faces.
These are a smaller variety (a flower not much bigger than my thumbnail!), that I have in garden at the moment, I could not resist photographing them in the studio...
Thanx for viewing, M, (*_*)
FOR THE GREAT EXPERIENCE:
Mon cœur est un bouquet de violettes
The history of the pansy is linked forever to the viola, its ancestor. Viola is a large genus containing 500 species according to Hortus Third. Violas were familiar to people living in Greece in the 4th century B.C.
The centre of origin for violas was continental Europe. The hardy but delicate viola was cultivated by the Greeks for herbal medicinal use and much later inspired William Shakespeare to write of romance.
Some time after the 4th century B.C. in Europe, an acute observer noticed a plant similar to a viola but growing in open areas with more sunlight. This plant thrived in alpine meadows and on rocky ledges. Someone named this plant a wild pansy. Possibly, it was a person living in France who noticed this plant because the word pansy is traced back to the French word pensée, meaning thought or remembrance.
The wild pansy bloom was larger and more round than violas.
These lightly scented flowers are available in a huge range of colours. The dark centres in some flowers are thought to resemble little faces.
These are a smaller variety (a flower not much bigger than my thumbnail!), that I have in garden at the moment, I could not resist photographing them in the studio...
Thanx for viewing, M, (*_*)
FOR THE GREAT EXPERIENCE: