native, sometimes considered a weed
photo taken in may
i am pretty sure what we have here are viola sororia, at least two types - the common blue-purple and the less common white-with-purple. but it's hard to be sure - it turns out that the viola genus is enormous! there are native violets all over the world.
these lovely little flowers spread fast and grow in a variety of lighting, but are especially fond of moist to wet areas and have a preference for shade, growing happily in swamps and wetlands. the flowers bloom in the spring and peter out towards the start of summer.
these violets disperse seeds via ants! their seeds are especially tasty to ants, who take them home and eat them and then basically plant the seeds when they poop. while they're liked just fine by various creatures, the humble violet is actually completely necessary for some: fourteen species of fritillary butterflies exclusively feed on violets in their larval stages, and violets are the sole source of pollen for the specialized "violet miner" bee (Andrena violae).
violet flowers and greens are edible for people, as well, and reasonably popular with foragers. the flowers can be made into syrup and candied, and the greens are high in vitamins A and C.
violets bloom in early spring.