The Time of the Violets Has Come

Working outside yesterday (before winter rears its ugly head yet again!)  I discovered that one of my favorite spring days had arrived - the violets are out!   Not, of course, the long-stemmed blue violets; those will be along by the end of the month.  No, these are the tiny sweet violets, buried in the grass, and putting dabs of color in the flower beds in shades of pink, white and dark and light purple.  They aren't much use for bouquets since the stems are so short, but the charm is in their sweet, distinct violet scent.  A handful of these little beauties gives the loveliest fragrance imaginable, and sometimes I pick a small bunch just for the purpose of giving my nose a treat. Even in an economy that sucks canal water, it's nice to know that some pleasures are still absolutely free.