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Donna VanBuecken

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Violets and other Host Plants

May 25, 2016

 

One of a variety of colors of violets (Violas spp) which grow at Donna's homestead.
One of a variety of colors of violets (Viola spp) which grow at Donna’s homestead. There are nearly 90 species in North America and more than 500 species worldwide.

The other day at a social gathering, I overhead someone complaining about all the violets in her lawn. How she “hated” them, and how they just “won’t go away.” I couldn’t help but ask her if she was aware the violet was the host plant for fritillary butterflies. She looked at me astounded, and just walked away.

I have several different colors of violets in my yard. Whether they’re native or not, I love the color they bring to my lawn and woodland and prairie areas.

There are many host plants for butterflies.

Ezra Brainerd’s book Violets of North America published in 1921 is available on-line.

Violets (Viola spp) from Donna’s yard
Violets from Donna’s yard
One of my favorite violets, the confererate violet with the beautiful combination of white petals with a blue core.
Violets from Donna’s hunting property.
Violets from Donna’s hunting land.
Teeny, tiny white violets on Donna’s hunting land too small to capture with her camera.
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Comments

  1. marty says

    May 27, 2016 at 8:38 pm

    very interesting featured white one with purple spots!

    Reply
    • Donna VanBuecken says

      May 29, 2016 at 9:03 am

      Hi! Marty — yes, I’m delighted by the variety in the colors of the violets. They always bring a smile to my face!

      Reply

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