Happy Birthday To Me!

My friend Jean and I took a road trip to Kingwood Center again this year to the Ohio African Violet Show and Sale. I had birthday money with me and it was fun to spend. Here is some of what I purchased..... I will show you the plants that aren't African violets later.

 'Pirate's Treasure' African violet

 

'Halo's Aglitter' African violet

As I've said before, these aren't plants you are going to find at your local big box or probably even at your local IGC (Independent Garden Center). And it pains me to say that as a member of a family run IGC. #1 Most people wouldn't pay the prices, and #2 Most people wouldn't pay the prices. It is what it is.

'Opera's IL Straniero' African violet

But, as a plant collector, I'm more than happy to pay the prices, which aren't extreme but not your normal $2.99-$4.99 violet. I think that is obvious.
Who could resist these color and flower shapes? Not me! I'm so glad this show is always near my birthday. And though my husband would love it if not one more plant entered our home, his birthday shopping is very easy.

'Queen's Sister' African violet

'Ma's Winter Moon' African violet

'Silverglade Meadows' African violet

As you can see, I love ruffly edges, and pink and green-those two together in the same flower if possible.

'Planet Kid' African violet

The following three violets are minis and semi minis. They are grown under lights on my counter top in the kitchen. I think the small plants and flowers are so cute.

'Little Busybody' African violet

'Fireworks' African violet

I can't stress how fun it is to go to these flower shows. If you can make it to a show and sale in your area, do so. You will see plants like you've never seen before. Take plenty of money!

'Sheer Romance' African violet

'Hawaiian Pearl' African violet

My Finds at Kingwood Center

'Evergrace'

In this, my third installment of the adventure at the Ohio African Violet Show and Sale at Kingwood Center, I will show you the plants I purchased. Yes, purchased. Remember, it is a show and SALE. I would have to say the sale room is the most popular area of the show. At this particular show, the commercial growers are there, including Violet Barn, Lyndon Lyon, Violet Gallery, Cape Cod Violetry, Pat Hancock with her Buckeye hybrids, and Fancy Bloomers.

'Dolores Sugar Candy'

'Irish Flirt'

The sheer amount of plants to choose from is unfathomable. There are thousands of plants to tempt you. It makes the decision of what to buy very hard. I am drawn to the pink and green varieties, as you can see. I had a list of ones I wanted, but even though I didn't find most of the ones I was looking for, I found plenty to make me happy. I only bought a few, hoping I could keep them looking floriferous and healthy. I will confess that I threw out almost all of my violets a few weeks ago. They were looking awful, and I decided to start over. I think  I had too many to take care of  them properly. By only having a few, hopefully the time I do have for them will be enough. Unhappy, unhealthy plants are depressing. Only take on what you can take care of. 

'Halo's Aglitter'

I bought a semi-miniature, a miniature, and the rest were standards. I seem to do well with the minis and so am drawn to them. They don't take up as much room, as well.

'Rob's Boondoggle'

As beautiful as these flowers are, the first thing I do when I bring them home, is cut off all the blossoms. I also isolate them from all my other violets and plants for at least 6 weeks. Even though these plants are from very reputable growers, you never know what unexpected "surprises" may be lurking about. You want to make sure there are no thrips, mealybugs, or any other unwanted problems. By keeping them isolated, you can watch for any of these things and deal with the problem right away before it spreads. You will be happy you did.

'Bishop'

'Mountain Snowcap'

Begonia 'Baby Dress'

Violet Barn brings quite a few miniature houseplants as well as violets. I couldn't resist this begonia called 'Baby Dress'. It is a small begonia, only getting 6" tall. I love begonias and had to add this to my collection.

If you can get to this show next year, I would recommend it. Not only is it a great shopping trip, but the gardens are beautiful, the lectures are educational, and the show is fabulous. Seeing all those plants grown to perfection, spurs me on to try to get mine to look as good.

Ohio African Violet Show and Sale

'Buckeye Too Tempting'

In my last post, I talked about the design portion of the Ohio African violet show. My favorite part of the show, though, is the horticulture portion of the show where all the violets and other gesneriads are displayed and judged. These plants are well grown and beautiful;  the best of the best. These are plants grown to perfection by people who know what they are doing and do it very well. 

'Buckeye Cranberry Sparkler'

Not only are there amazing plants, there are programs given by famous African violet growers and hybridizers. The first four pictures are of Buckeye hybrids. They are hybridized by Pat Hancock, who taught one of the seminars. It was about growing plants from a leaf to a show plant. She talked about the fact that all facets of growing the plant is controlled by the person growing it. The more attention paid to them, the better off the plants will look. The most important part of the plant is the crown and the roots. If you don't have good roots, you won't have a good crown. A new idea I learned from Pat is that when potting a violet, put about 1 1/2 inches of a perlite/vermiculite mix at the bottom of the pot before putting soil on top and potting the violet. Violets roots prefer lots of air in their soil and by putting the vermiculite and perlite at the bottom, it allows more air to get to the roots. Violets have shallow root systems, so this system is a great way to cultivate these plants. I'm going to try it with the plants I bought this last weekend. Pat's philosophy is that starting a plant from a leaf is easier to raise because you are cultivating it in the conditions it will be growing in permanently. Buying a plant means you have to take on a plant that has been growing in the conditions that someone else has. It then has to acclimate itself to your conditions. It really does make sense. 

Buckeye 'Irresistible'

'Buckeye Seductress'

 She also reminded us that  variegated plants such as the one to the right will have more variegation if grown in cooler conditions. If a variegated plant becomes green, it is growing in conditions that are too warm.

'The Alps'

This plant on the left is called 'The Alps' and is a chimera. Chimeras are special violets that can't be propagated by leaves, only by suckers. As you can see, the flowers are striped. These plants are always more costly, because they cannot be propagated from leaves.

'Yukako'

The Yukako, also a chimera,  is my favorite violet as you can probably ascertain from my blog, facebook, and  twitter account.

'Newtown Grape Suzette'

The violet above was huge, probably at least 15" or more across. It was beautiful!

Optimara 'Evergrace'

Optimara 'Evergrace' is one of the many space violets hybridized by Optimara. Seeds were sent into space, originally meant to be there for 11 months. They ended up being in space for 6 years. The experiment was meant to see what would happen to the seeds after being exposed to cosmic radiation and the lack of gravity. The outcome were plants that are large and bloom almost continually.

'Rob's Antique Rose'

'Mac's Misty Meadow'

'Petite Blarney'

Not only does the show have fabulous African violets, it also has other amazing gesneriads, such as episcias, columneas, streptocarpus, and achimenes. 

Espicia 'Country Copper'

Steptocarpus 'Raydar's Ruthie'

Episcia 'Karlyn'

Columnea herthae

There are also other classes, such as African violets in unusual or decorative containers.

How cute is this little violet in an antique container?

There are also dish gardens,.....

natural gardens,.......

and terrariums, all having African violets incorporated in the design.

As you can see, there was lots to see, do, and that doesn't even include the sales room, where you could buy all the fabulous plants you saw in the show. Commercial growers were there, including, Lyndon Lyon, The Violet Barn, Violet Gallery, Cape Cod Violetry, and and Pat Hancock with her Buckeye hybrids. Not to mention that this all took place at Kingwood Center, an exceptional public garden. I'll write more about that in my next post. 
Next year, make a trip to Mansfield, Ohio for the Ohio African Violet Show and sale. You won't be disappointed. ...... Bring your checkbook!

Violets Catching Beatle Mania

 Yesterday, I went to Kingwood Center to attend the Ohio African Violet Show and Sale. This year the show theme was Violets Catching Beatle Mania. I'll tell you about the sale later.

 
I'm going to show you some of the flower arrangements from the judged flower show. The theme of the flower show is represented in the design division. Of course, every arrangement has to use African violets.

This design (left) had to include an entire African violet, the root ball being wrapped in plastic. How awesome is this guitar?














This arrangement also has an entire African violet included in the design.

Yellow Submarine

How fitting that the underwater flower arrangements are called Yellow Submarine.

September In The Rain

An Aglaonema as well as a Japanese maple branch was used in this arrangement. I was appalled that someone could cut a houseplant up for a flower arrangement, but the designer told me the plant had rotted at the soil level and so these stems are being rooted in water. I felt better.

Twist and Shout

September In The Rain

This arrangement also used houseplants in the design, September In The Rain. A golden Schefflera, the umbrella plant (how apropos) and a Ficus were used. I could never be a designer, because I could NOT cut up my houseplants!












This is just the design part of the show. There is also the horticulture part of the show which includes all the African violets, terrariums, dish gardens, and other gesneriads. I don't want to make this too long, so I will show you the African violets tomorrow and tell you what I learned at the seminars from the professional growers. (And I will show you the violets I purchased.)