Among all the heady floral fragrances of spring, I've been most captivated this year by the ever-spreading patches of sweet English violets.

Their bloom season in my garden begins in February, with a large patch at a vegetable plot edge in the back garden, at the top of my gently sloping property. This open area is the warmest, earliest part of the garden.

Drifts of the sweetscented violets also grow in cooler, shadier sections of the front garden, across from the north-facing front door. They're still in full flower now, in this late, cool spring.

Throughout the violet season I've noticed, on the occasional sunny day, that the sun's warmth prompts a release into the air of the wee flowers' haunting, beautiful aroma. In the house, even the tiniest bouquet of violets perfumes an entire room.

Like the crocuses and hardy cyclamen in my garden, sweet violets manage to plant themselves in more garden spots each year. I am grateful.

A virtuous meal. The kale plants are doing their usual March thing this month -churning out an appetizing supply of tender leaf rosettes for the plucking. My most recent kitchen kale adventure turned out well. I used a large wok and began by frying slim strips of garlic and ginger root in about one tablespoon each butter and oil. To this I added one apple cut into small cubes. Then I mixed in around three cups of chopped kale and covered the wok to let the kale steam crunchy-tender.

The other half of my frugal meal that evening was leftover, warmed brown basmati rice containing carrot and leek.The kale and rice looked surprisingly appealing on the plate, and the meal was "dirt" cheap, nutritious and rather virtuous -ideal for Lent.

Curse that basil. Now is the ideal time to seed basil indoors for transplants to set out in the garden or into planters during the warmth of May. I enjoy pots and windowbox planters of basil on the sunny patio, to accompany the containers of cherry tomato plants. Some gardeners grow basil between tomato plants in the open garden.

Basil is a popular herb with a long history. It has been cultivated in Mediterranean countries for thousands of years. Both Greeks and Romans believed that, to ensure germination, it was necessary to curse mightily as the seed is sown. Personally, I've never found that necessary. Basil seeds germinate easily, within seven to 14 days, in a warm place. The trick is to give the seeds just a scant covering of seeding mix and not to overwater. Avoid cool, wet conditions and all will be well. No imprecations required.

hchesnut@bcsupernet.com