Here in northern Georgia, one of the earliest bloomers is the violet.
I love them.
But I hate them.
For the 16 plus years we lived in our former home, I battled the darned things! They take over your lawn until you don't have grass any more! When we moved here to our current home about 5 1/2 years ago, and spent a chunk of money on having an irrigation system and Bermuda sod put in, I vowed to never allow another violet to take root on this property!
But last week, temptation got the better of me, and while at my parents I dug up a few bunches and planted them in my back yard. Now, the back yard is our 'natural' yard, where grass doesn't grow well because of all the shade, and we have left it pretty much as we found it. There are several native species back there - rats bane, Solomons seal, pitcher plants, dog tooth violets and hearts-a-bursting. And we've added a few native azaleas, hostas and astilbe to the mix as well.
So, a few little wild violets can't upset the balance of our back yard. Can they?
You tell me, are they a curse, or a pleasure??? Should I run back there right now, before they have time to take root? Or should I leave them and let nature take it's course?
Oh, the dilemma of a flower loving gardener!
Have a great day! Becky
