All About Violets

    Listen 00:53:27

    Wild violets are beautiful but ephemeral—especially when a landlord can’t wait to mow them down! On this week’s You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath will discuss how to try and save these wonderful wild things! Plus: Equal time for African violets; and your fabulous phone calls.

    Question of the Week:

    “Every spring a portion of our lawn is a carpet of wild violets. I love it, but our landlord doesn’t. He hates all flowers and wants a sterile lawn. (A neighbor planted flowers that climbed up her trellis—a feat she accomplished despite having only one hand—and one day she came home to discover that he’d ripped out the flowers and trashed the trellis!)

    To the point: I love plants, especially violets. Is there a way to grow them indoors? Once the lawn is mowed, they’ll be gone until next year. I see questions in your archives from people who want to get rid of them – why? They’re so very beautiful!”
    —Cynthia in Nashville
    Can you grow violets indoors?

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