{"product_id":"round-leaved-violet-jewelry-set","title":"Amelia Ant and Round-Leaved Violet Jewelry Set","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIn the forest understory, a tiny yellow flower is doing something remarkably clever. And Amelia the ant is paying very close attention.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eThe Flower That Knows How to Get Attention\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRound-leaved violets are easy to walk right past. They are small, they grow close to the ground, and they bloom in the dappled shade of the forest floor where most people never think to look. But when you spot one, a little jolt of excitement runs right through you. That bright, happy yellow against the forest green is one of the most cheerful sights in nature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLook closely at the center of the flower and you will notice something extraordinary. Round-leaved violets have tiny hairs near the center of their petals, and those hairs are usually a completely different color than the flower itself. They act like a neon sign, a vivid little \"over here!\" beacon that insects can see from a distance, giving visiting bees and other pollinators something to hold onto while they drink the nectar. The flower is not just beautiful. It is brilliantly designed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eMeet Amelia\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmelia the ant has found this violet and she is here on very important business. Round-leaved violets are propagated by ants through a process called myrmecochory, one of the most wonderful words in the natural world and one I never get tired of saying.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere is how it works. The seeds of these violets have a tiny white appendage called an elaiosome attached to them. The elaiosome is packed with fats and proteins, exactly the kind of thing an ant colony finds irresistible. Amelia will carry the seed all the way back to her nest, where the colony will eat only the elaiosome and nothing else. The seed itself gets deposited in the colony's compost pile, a wonderful little heap of broken down plant material that turns out to be the perfect place for a new plant to germinate. A violet grows. A forest fills in. All because of an ant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery patch of round-leaved violets you have ever admired exists because of ants just like Amelia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eThe Set\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis one of a kind set includes a round-leaved violet pendant necklace and a pair of matching stud earrings, all made entirely by hand from sterling silver. Every petal, every tiny hair near the center of the flower, and Amelia herself were carved and formed individually from scratch. There is not another set like this anywhere on earth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePendant:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e1.25 inches tall on an 18 inch sterling silver necklace\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEarrings:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eHand carved studs measuring 1\/2 inch tall\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eSterling silver throughout\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDetail:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eBoth pieces feature the tiny hairs that real round-leaved violets have\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eOne of a Kind\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is only one of this set in the world. When it finds its home it will never be made again exactly like this.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eA Note from Tamara\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI made this set because round-leaved violets are one of those flowers that rewards the people who slow down and look closely. Most people walk right past them. My real life friend, Matt, shared a photo of some he found while hiking with me and I knew I wanted to make them! Once you know about the tiny hairs and the neon beacon and Amelia's extraordinary role in growing them, you will never walk past one again. I hope this set reminds you to look closely at the small things. They are almost always the most interesting ones.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eShipping\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmelia, her violet, and her matching earrings are finished, packaged safely, and will be on their way to you within 3 to 5 business days.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Striped Cat Metalworks","offers":[{"title":"Earrings","offer_id":47327686066325,"sku":null,"price":150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Necklace","offer_id":47327686099093,"sku":null,"price":270.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Earrings \u0026 Necklace Set","offer_id":47327686131861,"sku":null,"price":400.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0045\/2703\/0383\/files\/spring_violet_set_min.jpg?v=1777924176","url":"https:\/\/stripedcatmetalworks.com\/products\/round-leaved-violet-jewelry-set","provider":"The Striped Cat Metalworks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}