The Flower the Deer Forgot: A Tribute to Mom

This week, my stepfather, Joe Festerling, gave me one of my mom’s favorite flowers—a tiny purple violet, or viola as I call them. This little 4″ pot is bursting with about 40 sweet blooms, their deep purple petals contrasting beautifully against dark green leaves. It is a Viola laboradorcia, Labrador Violet which we use to sell at Behnke’s

Joe sells a few of these from the wagon at the front of his house, but we both love seeing them in the garden. When Mom passed away, he planted what I like to call a memory garden for her. He added more of these violets and many cheerful pansies a few weeks ago. That night, Mom’s “friends”—the deer—came by and mowed down the pansies but left the violas untouched. It was funny because the flowers were mixed, yet the deer skipped over the violas. They just don’t like them!

After much discussion with my husband, I decided this little violet needed a special place in our garden. I planted it near our mass of yellow daffodils, imagining how, as it spreads (hopefully!), the soft lavender blooms will create a beautiful contrast against the bright yellow. Of course, they will remind me of my mom, Sonja Behnke Festerling, every time I walk by.