Gallery: roses are red, violets are blue …
Or so the old rhyme goes. Actually of course, violets are violet, somewhere between red and blue. When I was young I used to say that green was my favourite colour, and I still love it, but shades of purple and deep pink have edged it into second place these days.
According to the Empowered by Color website the names violet and purple are interchangeable, and the meaning of the two colours is similar:
Both contain the energy and strength of red with the spirituality and integrity of blue. This is the union of body and soul creating a balance between our physical and our spiritual energies… purple and violet represent the future, the imagination and dreams, while spiritually calming the emotions. They inspire and enhance psychic ability and spiritual enlightenment, while, at the same time, keeping us grounded.
I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows
William Shakespeare ~ A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act II, Scene 1
For this week’s Sunday Stills challenge, and for Becky’s Bright Squares, I present a selection of violet-coloured flowers – a couple of which truly are violets!
The photos in Portugal were taken in 2016; the Ealing photos are mostly from 2020 and 2021, but the iris was taken in 2018
30 Comments
SJ Butler
These are lovely 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you very much Sue 🙂
thehungrytravellers.blog
Beautiful! I particularly like the one with the bee 😊
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you very much – that’s one of my favourites too 🐝
Kirstin
Those are all so beautiful. I love them all but really love the one with the bee.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Kirstin – it’s always good to get a bonus bee in the shot 🐝
SoyBend
What gorgeous violet blossoms, Sarah!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you very much Siobhan 🙂
Fergy.
Hello Sarah,##beautiful photography as always and of a beautiful subject to boot.
If you want your purple to pack a punch may I suggest Parma violet gin?
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Fergy 🙂 I’m not sure about Parma violet gin. My grandmother used to always carry some of the sweets so I have good memories of her associated with them but I never much liked the flavour – like eating perfume! Mind you, Chris says that gin is like drinking perfume so … 😆
restlessjo
Lovely lilacs! Such a beautiful gallery, Sarah 🙂 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Jo – the lilacs are from last year as they’re not quite fully out yet here 🙂
wetanddustyroads
Beautiful … ALL of them! It was so good to look at your photo’s, that I’ve went back to the top of the post and re-looked at all of them again 💌.
Sarah Wilkie
That’s such a lovely comment Corna – I’m happy to know you found them worthy of a second look 😍
Terri Webster Schrandt
Wow, Sarah, I can see why violets are your favorite color! Your gallery is stunning and so much purple seems to be so pleasing to the eye!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Terri – I tried to make sure my purple packed a punch!
Cee Neuner
Oh these are all absolutely marvelous 😀
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Cee, much appreciated!
Tracey
Fantastic close ups!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Tracey 🙂
Rose Vettleson
I recently mentioned on another blog, how I love ‘all the colors’, but was starting to think all the ‘sky and water blues’ were becoming my favorites. You’ve definitely made the case for violet to become another favorite color. 😊 I can almost smell the lilac from here.
Sarah Wilkie
Ha, I didn’t set out to ‘convert’ anyone Rose 😆 Your choice of sky and water blues is beautiful too!
BeckyB
what a stunning post 😀
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Becky!
BeckyB
🙂
Siva jyothi
Beautiful lavender flowers
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Siva 🙂
margaret21
These make a lovely start to the week. Oddly, most violets round here are white. They’re nice enough, but as far as I’m concerned, not the genuine article. Luckily, I do know a few haunts where they can still be found.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Margaret 🙂 I don’t think I’ve seen white violets, although it’s possible that I did but didn’t recognise them as such because of the colour!
margaret21
They spread even more wildly than their cousins. And then dominate 🙁