For those of you that live in different climates, these are violets, the wild version of our much loved garden violas and pansies. 
Whenever I see a carpet of these tiny beauties, I am transported back to my childhood. There was a tiny little roll of half inch wide, mauve sweeties, and as soon as you opened the packet the scent exploded. When you put them in your mouth it was difficult to decide if you were tasting the taste, or tasting the fragrance. In fact some people would say they taste like old ladies soap. But I didn’t care, they were heaven on my tongue.
Parma Violets were first made in 1930 in Derbyshire, England, by the Swizzels Matlow company and apparently they now make giant Parma Violets, where are they, I need them? I believe they are a love or hate thing. Now I’m sure there are some of you that remember them, or perhaps still eat them, so tell me do you think they are delicious or disgusting? Of course they don’t smell like these real violets, but nevertheless a sweet and tempting smell.
Jude at Travel Words has nominated me for the ‘Five Photos, Five Stories’ challenge, and I would like to nominate Tony at 2far2shout, a brilliant storyteller who takes a mean photo too.
Tony there’s no obligation, have fun if you want to!
The challenge is to just “post a photo each day for five consecutive days and attach a story to the photo. It can be fiction or non-fiction, a poem or a short paragraph and each day nominate another blogger for the challenge”.
Lucid Gypsy 
These are gorgeous and delicious too? Do you put them in a salad, decorate a cake or just pick and eat and kid would do?
I believe you can eat them in salad but the Parma Violets are literally sweets – candy!
Wow. The things I learn in Blog World. Thanks, Gilly.
Such gorgeous and dainty little flowers, Gilly. I so remember those packets of Parma Violets. I ate so many, it’s a wonder I didn’t change colour. 🙂
Violet Sylvia, now there’s an interesting image!
I loved Parma Violets at the time – but suspect I’d be revolted now!
I expect that like me you would only be able to eat a couple!
Yes! Parma violets are one of my favourites! And as nobody else ever likes them you get the whole packet to yourself!
I love violets. My grandmother used to grow them. The hugs, Barbara
Me too, such delicate beauty!
I’ve never had Parma Violets. They must be a British thing?
I’ve never seen them anywhere else – no one else would be crazy enough to eat them!
I used to eat the sweets too, they really do bring back so many memories, thanks.
In Tesco they sell a gel air freshener, a sort of plastic container with holes in, containing a block of wobbly jelly. The one from the value range smells exactly like the sweets.
If you get the chance take a sniff… But don’t eat it. 😀
Really? It would probably make me wheeze 🙂
These 5 photos posts are bringing up some nice little stories, Gilly, and none more so than this. (I have a couple of nominations so I’ll get there eventually 🙂 ) I wasn’t a Parma Violets kid but the memory made me smile. Love hearts were more my thing.
It has been fun to do this challenge. Love hearts are trendy these days in wedding favours!
Are they? Good heavens! The ferry was at Hampton Lode, by the way. Mick is pretty snappy with Google earth and I recognised the name as soon as he said it (from 22 years ago- the last time I was down that way 🙂 )