The Viola (Viola 'Jackanapes').

Viola's belong the the Plant Kingdom or Plantae, Division: Magnoliophyta (which I did not know!), Class: Magnoliopsida, Order: Malpighiales, Family: Violaceae, Genus: Viola.

A genus of about 500 species of annuals, biennials, evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous perennials and a few deciduous sub-shrubs(!). Each mostly unscented flower has 5 petals - a spurred lower petal, 2 lateral petals and 2 upward-facing upper petals. Violas vary from hardy to half hardy and should be grown in fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun. Flower colours vary in the genus, ranging from violet, as their common name suggests, through various shades of blue, yellow, white, and cream, whilst some types are bicoloured, often blue and yellow. Many cultivars and hybrids have been bred in a greater spectrum of colours. Flowering is often profuse, and may last for much of the spring and summer.

I'm not entirely sure that this is the way I want my crafting to go. I know flower brooches sell quite well, but they just don't have the funny little faces that my sardine and other brooches have and I don't think they are really *me*. Thinking more and more about this, I do realise that these just aren't me at all and instead I will give them away! Leave a comment on this post and I'll pull 2 names out of the hat on Sunday and each will receive a Viola brooch and maybe a little Easter surprise too!