Sweet Violets
These violets suddenly grew, seemingly, out of ‘nowhere’. This startling discovery gives much pleasure, not just because they are delicate, pretty, unusual and indicative of ancient woodland but because of what they are growing on. They give us hope because, to my shame, I (very unusually) used some glyphosate on a pyracantha stump. The pyracantha was very old, overgrown and out of sorts and often complained about by my neighbour. My reluctant killing of it was subdued by my allowing one of its youngsters to flourish behind a conifer to allow nesting for birds. But how did these violets take to the once poisoned soil? Well done violets as they join wild strawberry, feverfew, ivy, Herb-Robert, willowherb, bugloss, aquilegia and one or two I have yet to name, all on a neglected space behind the shed! They are all cleansing the ground but particularly my dose of glyphosate. Always hope in nature.
May 2025