We were keen to share a little more about where Julie's (one half of Violet & Vine) love of flowers came from. We love hearing the inspiration behind a small business as the story is often so personal. It also ties nicely to Father's Day which is coming up on Sunday.
Fathers Day is a day to celebrate but it can also be a really difficult time for those who have lost their loved ones, like Julie did in 1992. From her words it's clear to see that he was a huge influence in her love of flowers and nature - and also the reason behind the Violet & Vine name!
"I’m writing this on June 3rd. Today would have been my lovely Dad’s birthday. He was my soulmate. You don’t always associate Dads with flowers but my Dad was a real country boy at heart. He grew up in a small pit village in South Yorkshire called Woodlands. He told me the names of every tree and wildflower we came across on our walks together. He was a master at finding mushrooms on our early morning walks and we had many a tasty breakfast thanks to him. I find it hard to pass a blackberry bush without wanting to reach for a bag and start picking. There is a bush near our old house which whenever I pass I can picture him in his tweed flat cap picking blackberries and being transported to another world - probably that of his childhood.
His favourite flowers were white carnations, forget-me-nots and violets. This was one of the reasons for naming our business as we did. It may also be why my favourite flowers all seem to be either blue or white.
Dad died suddenly in March 1992. We drove the three hours up to Yorkshire and as I walked up Mum and Dad’s garden path, I will never forget the beautiful mass of white crocuses.
I have fond memories of my Dad reading poetry to me - often by heart. Dad loved the William Wordsworth poem ‘Daffodils’ also known as ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’ and this too makes me think of him.
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
and twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretched in never-ending line
along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not be but gay,
in such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
what wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils."
We are wishing all Fathers a lovely day and to those who find the day difficult, we are sending lots of love and our thoughts to you.