For February, it's Violets

Every month of the year has a favorite gift flower. For February, it is one of my favorite flowers: delicate and blue purple, like bluebells: the violet.

 

Violets are a favorite perennial Missouri spring flower but in February, they are still dormant covered in snow and ice so potted African violets make a nice substitute.

African violets are very easy to grow. The trick is to find the right indirect sunlight spot and not to get water on their leaves. In their native habitat of South Africa, African violets live under the shade of trees. Their leaves have developed hairs to capture nearby moisture but they can't absorb direct water contact.

In the Language of Flowers, which Victorians used to send secret messages in bouquets, violets represent faithfulness.

Charlotte