Viola wittrockiana
A cheerful mix of hardy pansies.
Although the word “pansy” has its origins in the French pensee, meaning “thought,” the word became a slur directed toward gay, effeminate, or gender-nonconforming men. Artist Paul Harfleet’s Pansy Project, which ceremoniously sets pansies into the earth at spots where homophobic abuse has occurred, reckons with both senses of the word. Hardy plants that can bloom through the snow, pansies intrinsically embody the resilience and fortitude at the core of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The image above is taken year 2 of them blooming in our garden. Left outside in harsh winter only to find they come back more beautiful in the spring.
The Package
Each year, Hudson Valley Seeds commissions contemporary artists from around the United States to tell the story of a particular seed variety. That art and those seeds combine to create an Art Pack, a unique celebration of the diverse stories of seeds and their stewards.
The Artist
Artwork by Paul Harfleet. In this digital illustration, the pansy takes its rightful place among many symbols representing the strength of the LGBTQIA+ community: a pride flag, a trans pride flag, a pink triangle, and a red ribbon.
