The Genus Viola: A Presentation

Last week, my garden club’s speaker “ghosted” us, as the kids says. We attempted to contact the person, we did online searches for the person, and we came up with nothing. A no-show. It happens.

So when the vice-president of the club asked me for ideas on what we could do instead, I suggested that if she thought others would like it, I could present a short program on the genus Viola.

Well, long story longer, she loved the idea of a progam on the genus Viola, who wouldn’t?

And so I was off to the races to put it together. I fired up my computer and grabbed pictures from here and there and everywhere. I dove down into Canva to create some graphics. I flipped through my books (see above) to do a little more research and check my facts.

Voila!

I had a nice little program on the genus Viola!

A couple of graphics I developed in Canva included this chart showing what I planned to cover.

And then there was this graphic which speaks to the poetry of violets.

And this one which I can explain.

But only if I do the entire presentation.

Which I am willing to do via Zoom for anyone’s garden club. For a small budget-friendly fee. Email me for details.

While doing my research, I discovered there were more books on violets that I thought would be nice to have, including Violets: The History & Cultivation of Scented Violets, by Roy E. Coombs and Wild Violets of North America, by Viola Brainerd Baird. That book led me to order a copy of Violets of North America by Ezra Brainerd (Viola’s father).

The book by Coombs arrived earlier today and has an extensive bibliography, which for the sake of my pocket book, I should probably avoid for now, at least until after the other books I ordered arrive.

In the meantime, while I wait, I’ll read these two books, and maybe find some more tidbits to add to my program, The Genus Viola.

Seriously, if your garden club would be interested in this program, email me to discuss.