Early Blue Violets

Quite a few of the more recent photos that I've posted have come from my archives, including this one, showing a small clump of Early Blue Violets. These early spring flowers were growing at one of the private properties a small group of us visited during the May Species Count, on 25 May 2014.

This spring (2015) appears to have been delayed. A few days ago, a group of us went on our first Botany walk of the season, at Bebo Grove in Fish Creek Park, but there was nothing in bloom and barely any sign of plants growing. It had snowed the previous two (?) days, but the snow had already melted.

"These fragrant, bluish-purple flowers are up to 2 cm across. "Medicinally, early blue violet was used as a poultice for bruises, and a violet syrup was made to relieve epilepsy, inflamed eyes, insomnia, jaundice, and sore throats. In modern times, violets have been used to colour and flavour medicines."

www.naturewatch.ca/english/plantwatch/species_details.htm...