5 STAR HT PLANTS SERIES by Sarah Sierdazki
Well-loved cheerful blossoms of early spring and late fall are tremendously useful in HT programs year-round.
CRITERIA 1: VIOLAS, PANSIES, AND VIOLETS ARE INEXPENSIVE AND EASY TO GROW:
Violas, pansies, and violets are easily grown from seed. They can be started indoors and transplanted into the garden, or the seeds can be directly sown into the garden.
CRITERIA 2: LONG PERIOD OF USEFULNESS: Violas, pansies, and violets can be used fresh in early spring and in the autumn. Many of these plants will withstand light frost and some will even withstand snow—such as “Icicle Pansies.” These plants bloom at times when there aren’t too many other useful plants blooming in the garden. These flowers can also be pressed or dried for use throughout the rest of the year.
CRITERIA 3: PROVIDE MULTI-SENSORY STIMULATION:
Visual—There are many bright colors, sizes, and “faces” available.
Tactile—There are no thorns and few people are allergic to pansies, violas, and violets.
Olfactory—Sweet violets (Viola odorata) have a lovely sweet scent. Violet oil is often used in perfume making and to fragrance potpourri.
Taste—Violas, pansies, and violets are edible flowers if they are grown organically (without pesticides or fungicides.) They have a sweet vegetal flavor and add brilliant color to your dish. Infuse violets in sugar water to create violet syrup for pancakes, punches, and other special beverages.
CRITERIA 4: SAFELY USABLE BY A VARIETY OF AGES, POPULATIONS, AND SETTINGS FOR HORTICULTURAL THERAPY: Violas, pansies, and violets can safely be used by any age, population, and in any HT setting. Some of its HT uses and activities might include:
CULINARY: Use the fresh petals in salads, fruit salads, or to freeze in ice cubes for special beverages. Infuse apple juice with violets to make a lovely purple violet jelly. Crystallized violets are often used to decorate cakes, cookies, cupcakes, and scones. The fresh washed and dried violets are dipped in egg white (use the powdered variety to reduce the chance of salmonella) and then dusted with finely granulated sugar. They are set to dry on waxed paper. Once dried, they can be frozen in airtight plastic boxes and stored in the freezer for future use.
CUT FLOWER USE: Use fresh flowers in spring bouquets and tussie mussies
SKINCARE/COSMETIC USES: Use violet infusions in lotions, hand creams, soaps, and colognes. Can also add violet leaves to facial steams.
MEDICINAL USES: Violet infusions (herbal tea) can be used to soothe coughs and bronchitis. It also helps headaches and insomnia.
CRAFT USES: Pansies are the all-time best blossom for pressing. They hold their beautiful colors and “faces” well. The heart shaped leaves are also beautiful when pressed. Leaves and flowers press very well in telephone books. The pressed flowers can be used to decorate blank greeting cards, book marks, candles, and are lovely when framed.
CRITERIA 5: HAS INTERESTING PLANT LORE ASSOCIATED WITH IT: Violets and other plants in the viola family have been cultivated for thousands of years for their bright colors, sweet perfume, and charming nature. Sweet violets are said to be the favored flowers of Venus and Aphrodite. For the Greeks, violets were a symbol of fertility. The Romans enjoyed violet wine. Violet was a favorite fragrance for the Victorians in England. Writers from Homer to Shakespeare have written about sweet violets.