Nebraskaland

62 Nebraskaland • June 2022 MIXED BAG I step out of the car and feel that the night's cool air has started to lift. Leatherman and foraging tin in hand, I also grab the flannel haphazardly tossed in the backseat a week ago. I follow the shaded path, but it doesn't take long to find them. They'd be meek and unassuming if not for their indigo gemstone-like flowers spreading over the sun-dotted forest floor. Viola sororia was my first forage, and they're still one of my favorites. For many, violets signify the coming of warmer days. It's natural that after a harsh winter and the promises broken by false spring, we'd be drawn to such bright chroma against the gradually greening landscape. V. sororia is native to eastern North America. It can be found across Nebraska in domestic spaces and is common in the eastern third of the state. This perennial tolerates sun and shade, developing large populations below trees or other, taller perennials. V. sororia patches are also found in the lawns of older homes, and the occasional violet can even be spotted growing in sidewalk cracks, earning them the "weedy plant" label. This species' bloom period typically falls within April - June. Violets are easy for beginning foragers to identify, and they can act as a stepping stone to learning more difficult forages. Since they can grow in colonies, collecting a handful of blooms is less likely to drastically affect populations. This forage also can be found in both rural and urban settings, so regardless of where someone lives, most Nebraskans don't have to travel far to find them. In a couple of foraging books, I've read that some view violets as a boring forage; they don't have a unique flavor when compared to some sought-after forages. While violets won't send anyone scrambling for more based on flavor alone, V. sororia brings a gorgeous splash of spring to virtually any homemade dish — something particularly helpful when you're looking to impress family or friends. I love to top desserts with violets. Any experienced baker knows that even the most carefully-crafted recipes can look dull when the final product is ready. Violets can visually elevate homemade bakes with minimal cost. As violets aren't bursting with flavor, no recipe adjustments are required either. When the bloom period is over, leaves can still be foraged. Violet leaves can pair nicely and lighten up some "heavier" autumn harvest flavors. I enjoy adding V. sororia leaves into kale, almond, goat cheese and cranberry salads. Ficaria verna (an invasive and toxic species) isn't normally found in Nebraska, but its leaves look somewhat similar. Exercise caution and only forage what you can positively identify. An early-season flower, pollinators rely on Viola species as a food source when other plants aren't yet blooming. Violets are also the host plant of fritillary butterflies — similar to how monarchs need milkweed, fritillaries need violets for survival. To maintain quality habitat and to ensure others can enjoy violets, take only what you need. I collect one bloom for every 20 present. VERSATILE VIOLETS By Kellie Hayden Gathering violets. KELLIE HAYDEN A Perfect Forage to Welcome Spring Baking with violets. KELLIE HAYDEN A. Bloom colors include indigo, purple, wine-red, white with purple centers, and white. B. Note the "spur" on the back of the bloom, visible from the side. C. Non-colorful fl owers are not present at the same time as colorful blooms, but looking for these when foraging leaves can help with identifi cation August- October. D. Violet leaves can vary in size, shape and margin from one population to another. Generally, leaves are heart-shaped and have crenate, or scalloped, margins. E. Flowers and leaves alike rise from the base of the plant. F. The root system is usually a taproot with smaller roots also present. ILLUSTRATION BY KELLIE HAYDEN

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