Coming into bloom now in my garden, I pass by this mass of deep amethyst flowers on a sturdy vine as I go to and from the greenhouse, the heady perfume making me stop for a moment and murmur a thank you to the wisteria goddesses.
I first grew Violacea Plena , a rare double-blossom wisteria, in my garden in the Sacramento Valley. I had just found the one and really didn't know what I had until it began blooming, as the tag didn't give its variety. When we moved up here, it took me several years to find another. Now they're more easily found, but not as popular as the singles. With their rich perfume, I can't imagine why.