Carol also had some beautiful hybrid pitcher plants that
housed squirrel tree frogs unharmed. (Click on the frog to hear him croak.)
Viola pedata Birdsfoot Violet

Violets (Viola sp.) are characterized as a low-lying plant
that is capable of growing in variety of habitats despite its preference for
shady woods. The leaves are often heart shaped but not always, Birdsfoot Violet
(Viola pedata) is an example of this. The flowers have five petals and sepals. The upper petals act as wide
area literally guiding insects to land where the nectar awaits. The lower petal
is a hollow spur. But did you know that Violets have two flowerings each season?
The second flowering hidden under the leaves of the plant is rarely seen and
usually blooms in early summer, long after the spring flower is gone. What is
interesting about this second flower is that it is self-contained and not open
to cross-pollination. The seeds it produces are self-pollinated and exact
replicas of the parent. It is no wonder that this is such a prolific plant!