A hidden violet...

On Good Friday, a tiny reminder of miracles and surprises of nature is found in my garden. I did not plant this sweet little violet but here it is blooming so prettily in a small corner.

Violets stand for modesty in the language of flowers.

"This humble flower has been celebrated in poetry and romance from ancient time and is mmuch loved for its delicate powdery scent. It was widely referred to by Shakespeare, who called it "forward", for it blooms early and heralds the approach of summer. The plant is often described as modest for hiding it dark beauty away in the long grass and for flowering so fleetingly.

There are many stories regarding the Violet's name, but it almost certainly originated in Greece where it is considered the flower of Zeus, the king of the gods. Legend has it that Zeus was in love with a beautiful maiden called Io and in order to protect her from Hera, his jealous wife, he changed her into a beautiful calf. Then in order to feed her with delicacies, he commanded the earth to bring forth a beautiful flower in her honour, which he named Ion, the Greek word for Viola."

~ from Penhaligon's The Language of Flowers

“The splendor of the rose and the whitness of the lily do not rob the little violet of it’s scent nor the daisy of its simple charm. If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its lovliness.”

~ Therese of Lisieux