Monday, February 01, 2010

MONDAY MUSE DAY ~ WELCOME FEBRUARY and VIOLETS (FLOWER of the MONTH)

"Surely as cometh the Winter, I know
There are Spring violets under the snow."

~ R.H. Newell



Violets under the snow



"February is merely as long as is needed to pass the time until March."

~ Dr. J.R. Stockton


Please join Carolyn for Garden Bloggers' Muse Day


24 comments:

  1. Lovely verse and flowers, Joey. I have a February-born sister and guess what her favorite color is ? I hope she's not reading this but I bought her a pair of amethyst earrings for her birthday.

    Thanks for adding your musings to our poetry circle.

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  2. Oh what a treat, Joey! Reading Carolyn Gail's comment reminded me of my own mother and mother in law, both February girls and both loved that shade. Amethyst is such a beautiful stone. I have the heart shaped amethyst earrings that belonged to my mother that are prized beyond measure.
    Frances

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  3. I like that bit about February only being around to pass the time until March. I like to use February for garden fantasizing/planning, too. I'm headed off to a garden show to bide my time until spring as well. I don't think I've ever found a violet (unfortunately) under the snow here in Alaska.

    Christine B.

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  4. Joey, This is a wonderfully lovely post~~Now I can't wait to see violets! gail

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  5. Super beautiful Joey! Cool I never heard of muse day..I'll have to check it out! Thanks! Lovely post..a spark of upliftment to my day!
    Kiki~

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  6. Hi Joey, Being a winter sower keeps me active (and happy) in February! :)

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  7. I was just discussing February with my daughter (we had lunch together). She's so done with winter, but I told her it's already February and it's a short month...so March will be here before you know it.

    Thanks for re-enforcing the spring to come.

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  8. i am also thinking of the blooms just waiting to peak through the snow or frozen ground. the year is already speeding by...
    happy february.

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  9. Hi, Joey;
    Great inspiration to keep us smiling through this snowy month. Like Monica, I, too, busy myself with indoor seeds. Now I want to plant some violets! :D

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  10. Hi Joey, February is often the bitterest month in my area. Still, it is only 28 days away from March and in March things do improve. Soon we will see the light at the end of this tunnel:)
    Marnie

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  11. Your sister is very lucky to have a thoughtful sister like you, Carolyn! Happy February Muse Day :)

    A 'happy' February shared thought, Frances :) Spring is right around the corner ... hold on!

    Welcome, Christine. Wow, an Alaskan gardener, how delightful! These violets aren't blooming now. This is a multiple exposure photo (violets/snow) to compliment the February quote and honor the flower of the month.

    Soon enough for me, Gail! I'm actually enjoying this down time, trying to catch up inside.

    Hi Kiki and thanks! Muse Day is a delightful way to connect with wonderful bloggers. Follow the link over to visit Carolyn in Chicago (a delight) and others who have contributed :)

    I know sowing is rewarding, Monica. Back in the old days, this was also part of my life. I simply ran out of time and space. Happy Michigan February, dear neighbor :)

    Love your optimism, Lindalou! Lunch dates with daughters are the best, aren't they? Mine was over with friends for dinner last night ... always a treat!

    Welcome back home and Happy February, Marmee! Life is speeding by, isn't it? I hope to accomplish all my inside goals before those violets peek out a me!

    Oh, be careful, Kate! Blooming violets are lovely but VERY invasive. Fine for a woodland area, allowed to wander, but mine are too 'pushy' in my garden/yard and rule the roost!

    Indeed there is light at the end of the tunnel, Marnie! In the meantime, until we see it and feel its warmth, enjoy the gift your beautiful birds and wildlife!

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  12. Heh. Normally, I'm grumbling about how slowly winter's going by, but now I want time to slow down so I get all my work done before spring. Never satisfied, am I?
    This is a lovely quote and wonderful photo-and I love violets. I have white, yellow, blue and 'Freckles' in my garden, and they don't take off too madly. Maybe the clay slows them down. But I know for others they can be problematic.

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  13. Hey Joey, I just love you. and that color violet makes me happy. I once had a whole room of violet. The other night I was at a website of an artist who does botanical prints--oh wait..I have to show you. http://botanix.org/ Look at her Nigella I think that's the one. Just so detailed and pretty. Well I thought of you. I think of you a lot when I look at things like that.

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  14. Oh happy day, jodi! Perhaps this year's 'Farch' won't be so horrid. I adore violets when they bloom, love tossing them in salads, and candied for desserts ... but ... enough is enough! Throughout the years they have meandered everywhere throughout lawn and garden, impossible to control :)

    Love you too, Anna! I did visit that sight ... Papaver orientale, a favorite in my garden, is a huge temptation. My home is filled with antique botanicals ... some day I should post them! (Even though it's overcast and you can't see it, I think the moon is having an huge effect on us ... hope you reconsider shampooing your furniture at this hour :) *hugs*

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  15. A beautiful image that certainly hints at spring -- what could be more springlike than violets? The poem is perfectly suited. And isn't that Stockton quote the truth?! Happy February. :)

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  16. Joey, do you promise that I'll find violets under the snow?

    My February motto is to embrace the snow and cold instead of pushing against it.

    donna

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  17. Thanks, Nancy, and Happy February. Once violets poke their pretty noses through the old stones in patio (like in photo) it's no stopping them ... it becomes a vicious battle of who wins the love/hate relationship!

    Oh, I wish you violets but not too many, Donna! Beware :) Love your positive attitude ... I feel the same. January flew by and so will February, at this time in my life, much too fast for me!

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  18. These are beautiful flowers. I have them wild here and once one gets started they must shoot out seeds everywhere because they end up growing everywhere. It is a hard time to get them under control but I still like them.

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  19. Joey, thank you for reminding me of the coming violets. I hadn't thought anout them for months now, but will now be anxiously awaiting their blooms. I let them come up where ever in the gardens and hen pull them out in the fall, otherwise they would soon take over. But some always come back in the spring with their lovely color.

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  20. Thanks Abe, I hear you! I have these cuties here, there and everywhere :) Speaking of cuties, I loved your portrait :)

    Hi dear Beckie :) Indeed, violets ALWAYS return! In fact, I just sighed thinking about them! Happy to see you out and about ... did I hear that Thelma & Louise are headed on a road trip to Chicago!

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  21. Joey, Thanks for the inspiration this morning. Purple is one of my favorite colors in the garden, and I love the idea that there are purple violets underneath the snow just waiting to pop out.

    I read through the comments, but I didn't see anyone mention the image--is this a painting you did?? If so, you continue to amaze me with all your talents!

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  22. Hi Rose. I agree, purple is a lovely color in the garden. About the photo, thank you, but hardly so talented ... not a painting but wanted the image to resemble one (multiple exposure - violets/snow). Santa gave me a new scanner for Christmas and having a ball scanning old (before digital) favorite photos.

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  23. Lovely verse and photo Joey... your photograph has a wonderful antique feeling about it. Carol

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  24. Thanks Carol ... exactly what I had hoped!

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