![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_e17fihEyHDVkfXfcxMKqlTAU7VHjLk4f-k1uGmvK6JMx2ZDIAdT7dCoQx7v19c2xwEKkUzb9hb0pQqEzAF3NBGB9jrjgOFzf_sWU-Oj_DRb-FfBAbmbB90Phx6dDE-8i_yGiFMIok6kW/s320/pennyw2.jpg)
Virginia pennywort, Obolaria virginica
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SCpya8Z3fsYmTi6K0U6BKNzr6IskzxdQbSOiZ75hxUHMAfagRClvBIe6jFG1qSNp5tNLPMPv1kzU2weMUAzT76ui1JblWlemROnS1Z4YoAhhGCHyoELwTfrWwOG_gOQ0CKrViprVCsjV/s320/pennywort.jpg)
A plant that's very easy to overlook in the leaf litter. It would be nice in rock gardens, I think. Some of them get a bit larger than this, but not by much.*
Do you see any violets?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlM3W6pIW4EGg8dYHWD30q5sJ9HGM9A1b-a3hrfetxE9GzeaICf3V8Uqd4eCNz_b97dLQy1kJGveDuhJzDXzEwSOO-yAXuAH0hc340F-UDyoxeFsaXqu08zrfg6ApHUY-eCqYclUHq7dD/s320/violawalteri8.jpg)
I took this picture with the camera pointed at my feet.** There are almost a dozen clumps of Viola walteri in the frame. (A.k.a. Prostrate blue violet or Walter's violet.)
Here's a closer look, with my foot for scale:***
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxKMJMcUlS7lHWk47-K1IlkLjo0KqNZ-z1XJ5R2Ssx5XD_JmSxVne6MGkwx-9W_eb04MKUS0PL3E9ThqKiNSv8I1igvAINUkGRHgJEBaYT6ZtumC2HnNGA3vgmcz-md4fDx9Qc9Wc6MBY/s320/violawalteri5.jpg)
They're very petite.
Most of them are purple, but there are a few white ones:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4HMd7Wh1xBbUl3Oe1ma6n_d6QcKkCxV87PJHWpEcebj881-FitQacT82DUdt24w1b3clSQQtkpWng6pMv50qwl25lYFh_JjqcQGguMSj2ed6l75_-UXVfVdnGD813BGRUFnfTnL7mMhY/s320/violawalteri7.jpg)
Every flower in a clump is the same color.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZpXzlZtCFhZgK1xdmoSy2Sya5jKtIQ6a8zlo1L0YJgdGUU7ZXUHJYJPUmqQ019OVjmOC1mPBaMUitpntpHyJAvhLPiJNPsNG6tjEXGBnZDRld0dakaPYCtUhME3Ac93huADKxrzKO2AQ/s320/violawalteri3.jpg)
They have a medium-length hook or spur behind the flower. At our place they grow in dry limestone areas. (For the longest time, I just assumed they were regular violets that were stunted because of poor soil conditions!)
Common but still enchanting:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9PiAc7P5OrrEazvBQDl1A7eAFbzUUOGl-bpTITNiSYY6xRibvmOKWjUDJ-WoFwGmVDNwxkeY10DJEpRyLcpU1gGa8gmtXtux09MoPMc2UGRwOmCFebks6wI7c3kJCFMkymSUSrNPpJlK/s320/bluets2.jpg)
Bluets! This is one of the first wildflowers that I learned the name of. It's also how I learned that many birdwatchers are also very knowledgeable about plants: when the birds aren't showing themselves, you can always look around on the ground. ("Hey, what do you call this little purple flower, anyway?")
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*My glove size is small, so this really is a tiny plant.
**I'm 5'4", which is exactly average for American women by the way, not short, and I'm not standing on a rock or anything.
***My feet are sort of small too, size 6.
(Yes, since I've gained weight I like pointing out the things about me that are still small!)
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In researching the Walter's violet I came across a nice Alabama wildflower web page, Alabamaplants.com. Here is a link to that site's excellent photos of Viola walteri.
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A sad update:
While preparing to email Dan Tenaglia about his excellent site mentioned above, I learned that he passed away in an accident just last month.
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