Hello !

Well, I don't see any reason why you couldn't have sweet violets (odorata) or parmas :-) Summer in south of France are terrific too, especially in Toulouse where parmas were (are still a little bit) cultivated !
During summer a shade place is needed and do not forget to sprinkle; if you do it almost every day no matter the heat (Waterless place is the problem).
I guess you'll have to make the try in different places, but, violets deserve it :-)
And let's write it again: ONLY odoratas and parmas are fragrant. We are spoiled in Europe :oP Sorry boys n girls, that's the way it is lol !! Don't complain too much, murcan violets are lovely too, bigger and they are so many diiferent ones...

Go luck and don't give up :-)
All the best
Thierry :-)

Howdy Thierry,
I agree that [very sadly for us "murcans"] ;0) , most murcan violets don't have any scent at all. And I certainly agree that those Odoratas and Parmas really are top of the list for fragrance, but...
If you ever have a lot of Priceana in bloom on a warm day, try smelling a bundle of freshly picked flowers. It's not super strong and it is very different from odorata or Parma, but it's still a pleasant fragrance. Reminds me of honeysuckle or jasmine. Viola canadensis also is always scented for me. And Viola blanda has a little bit too. And just once, when my nose was really starved, I even found some fragrance in a large pile of Viola striata flowers that I was collecting pollen from. I was very surprised at that one -- I'd smelled it many times before and always been disappointed.
I sure hope your nose can smell some of these too -- don't give up too easily on the murcans.
Thanks for the laughs.
Take care, Tom

P.S. In case anyone is still wondering what these murcan violets are...
Hint: say it 5 times fast -- "a murcan violet, a murcan violet, a murcan violet, a murcan violet, a murcan violet"

Salut Thierry,

Well, this is good news after all! I did pick up the Queen Charlotte as well as a generic V. odorata. It has been in the 90's already (Fahrenheit) but is cooling down a bit.

I also suspect all if not most flowers have scent, the fault is in the human nose. I too have noticed the perception of fragrance depends on the time of day and the number of flowers; while a single blossom may seem scentless, a mass of them proves otherwise. Some flowers seem scentless up close but waft a sweet perfume from a distance, others require a nose up close. Ah, the joys of gardening....

Next acquisition, a Parma or two. Any recommendations which or personal favorites?

hello folks :-)

Tom, glad to hear from you again :-)
About fragrant, I'm not sure the nose is the key, the brain is more likely to mislead us. I still believe many violets are scentless :oPPP Some European pride I guess LOL !!
Greenwitch, de Toulouse is the best ;o)) No, just kidding and my personnel favorite 'cause it's the hardest according to my climate...all are fine...do it the way you feel it, choose the one you're fall in love with :-)

A little photo, just for pleasure, hope you'll enjoy it !
It's violets' time here !! PARADISE :-)

VIOLA SELKIRKII !

{{gwi:1338614}}

All the best :-)
Thierry.

Greenwitch, you've got it... "perception of fragrance depends on" lots of variables, not the least of which, is the nose... and the brain too (like you said Thierry). And mine (nose and brain) might be ganging up to trick me, but it puts a smile on my face either way. ;0)

And of all I've smelled, Parmas would still be my favorite. Even though I can't seem to keep any of them growing for long. The odoratas, I CAN grow, and are without a doubt, scented. But Parmas are like candy.

Beautiful selkirkii, Thierry. Spring seems so far away for me. It's nice to be reminded that it is really coming.
Thanks, Tom

Beautiful pic Thierry! About the botanical name, selkirkii - when I lived in Europe I introduced the Selkirk Rex cat (curly or wavy coat) there, had a photo spread in Le Figaro.

I did get the two violets, apparently roof rats love to nibble them, buds, flowers and foliage - no worries, I rescued them to another location in time - they will recover. I will keep them over the summer where they will get misted and stay cool.

I will wait on the Parmas, summer is bearing down on us (soon) no point in nursing them through temps in the 100's and I believe their blooming season wraps up if not this month than next.