All About African Violets

Welcome to my Sunroom Welcome to my Sunroom, you guys!!!  Fall is definitely here in Chicagoland! I would like to thank those of you who have found the podcast important enough to you that you have supported it monetarily. I have recently received some very generous donations via the PayPal Donate button that you see above. Any financial donations made go directly to help defray the costs of keeping All About African Violets “on the air.” Thank you. Thank you. And thank you again. :-) Tips and Treasures I’m so glad so many of you enjoyed my grooming experiment last episode. I’m also really glad to get your feedback – and it was as I had feared – hard for you guys to actually see what I was doing, particularly in terms of symmetry. Big thanks to all of you who provided feedback!! So – let’s watch some more grooming – from the top, down, this time! A Look at What’s On the Stands Things are starting to look a little roomier on my stands! Get the Bail Money Ready! There are a few places with shows and events coming up!  * Saturday, October 23, 2021, Central Arkansas African Violet Society Sale – Little Rock AR in Maumelle Park, from10:00 am – 2:00 pm., Little Rock, AR* Saturday, October 23, 2021, Portland African Violet Association Fall Sale – Portland OR, at Portland Nursery, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, Portland, OR* Thursday, October 28-30, 2021, Lone Star African Violet Council (LSAVC) Convention and Show – Fort Worth TX, at the Radisson Hotel from 8:00 a.m. on the 28th to 5:00 p.m. on the 30th, in Ft. Worth, TX. Please check the AVSA website for events in your area. The new URL for the AVSA website is: https://africanvioletsocietyofamerica.org/ Keep Moving Forward Friends, I have some news to share with you and it’s going to sound like bad news. I have endometrial cancer. I know – it sounds bad. But I don’t think it’s going to be as bad as it sounds for me. Endometrial cancer is very treatable and it has a 99% cure rate! If it hasn’t spread, I may not even need to have chemo or radiation. Mine is Grade 1, which means we caught it early. My prognosis is excellent and I plan in being in that 99% group :-) It is important for you to know that I am not a doctor and anything I share with you of a medical nature should not be construed as medical advice. That being said, I want to mention the importance of knowing the symptoms of endometrial cancer. It is one of the most common types of uterine cancer. Uterine cancer usually occurs around menopause or after,

Welcome to my Sunroom Welcome to my Sunroom, you guys!!!  I’m going to quickly today because I have a lot to share with you! Tips and Treasures I’m trying an experiment this week. I filmed myself grooming my plants on the stand. Normally I would do this and film it for you looking down at the plant on a counter or table. I thought it might be more interesting to see me do this as I normally do it. Please let me know if you like this or prefer to see these types of teaching videos in a more controlled environment. :-) A Look at What’s On the Stands The look is also quick this week because I know that grooming section was long! Get the Bail Money Ready! There are a few places with shows and events coming up!  * Saturday, October 2, Spring Branch AVC, Annual Fall Sale, St. John Chrysostom Church 5402 Acorn Street, Houston.  Plant Sale open 9 am to 3 pm* Saturday, October 2, African Violet Council of Florida, Display and Sale, Christ Lutheran Church 2715 Lakeland Hills Boulevard, Lakeland, FL, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm* Saturday and Sunday, October 2-3, North Star African Violet Council Show & Plant Sale, Bachman’s Floral, Gift & Garden 6010 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis from 9-4 on Saturday, and 11-3 on Sunday. Please check the AVSA website for events in your area. The new URL for the AVSA website is: https://africanvioletsocietyofamerica.org/ Keep Moving Forward As I mentioned last week, I’ve been thinking a lot about how best to move forward with the podcast.  I hope you enjoyed today’s “beginner basics” video!  In my state – Illinois – we have a full-on mask mandate again.  PLEASE – Get Vaccinated.  And keep practicing the 3 Ws: * Wear a mask* Wash your hands* Watch your distance Thank you for joining me today – I hope your days are filled with all the things you love :-) Remember, you can find All About African Violets: * On Apple Podcasts!* On Instagram!* On Pinterest!

Welcome to my Sunroom Welcome to my Sunroom, you guys!!!  What a summer it’s been.  I’ve been wanting to be back with you now since I tried to come back in May, but time was not on my side.  And I traveled this summer for the first time since the pandemic started.  I was away for 3 weeks! Tips and Treasures As summer has been winding down, I’ve spent some time in the past few weeks thinking about how to move forward with the podcast.  What to talk about.  What topics to cover.  Wondering if I’m repeating myself.  But life has changed so very much in the past 18 months or so – everything is different now in COVID times.  It has changed how we interact with each other.  It also makes me feel like now is when we really need to find ways to connect with each other again – new ways, different ways – because connection is so very important.  One thing that doesn’t change is that there are plants on my stands, so let’s go take a look!! A Look at What’s On the Stands You probably noticed a lot of changes since the last look back in May.  That’s because I’ve been limiting my collection . . . And seriously – East Wind has already gone to its Great Reward . . . My original bloom stalk project was a total bust – but how about my Mandan Dandy Bloom Stalks???!!!  I’m totally excited about this project. I want to talk a little about lighting since I was asked about my stands.  I’m an old-school grower.  T-12s.  Grolux tubes.  Lighting guidelines from Pauline Bartholomew: * Leaf cuttings, plantlets, and minis should be about 6-8” below the lights.  At 10-12” below the lights, plantlets, and minis have a good growth rate and will stay flat and nicely shaped, but they will have few blossoms.* Mature standard plants should be placed about 8-10” below the lights Standard plants of some varieties will grow flat and compact with the tubes as high above them as 15-20”, but the blossoms will be fewer than normal. Get the Bail Money Ready! There are a few places with shows and events coming up!  * September 11-12, 2021, Wisconsin Council of African Violet Clubs Show and Sale – Oshkosh, WI, at St. Jude the Apostle Church Hall, 531 Knapp St., Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  Saturday, 10-4 and Sunday 10-3.  Free parking and free admission.* September 17, 2021 CANCELLED Ohio State African Violet Society’s Show/Convention is CANCELLED.* September 18, 2021, Rocky Mountain African Violet Council Show and Sale – Englewood, CO, at Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church.  8:30 – 12:00 for the show, and 8:30 – 1:00 for the sale. * September 18, 2021, Memphis African Violet Society Fall Sale – Memphis, TN, at Central Christian Church.  10:00 – 2:00 Please check the AVSA website for events in your area. The new URL for the AVSA website is: https://africanvioletsocietyofamerica.org/

Welcome to my Sunroom Hi Everyone! Welcome to my Sunroom!! We’re going to talk about sports today. Not that kind of sports. :-D Tips and Treasures Today you get to see the possible chimera bloom that was on my Geyser of Color plant. Here is the description of this variety: Geyser of Color (10678) 03/19/2014 (Paul Sorano/Lyndon Lyon Greenhouses) Single pink sticktite star/purple fantasy. Variegated medium green and beige, spooned, quilted. Standard. As you can see in the episode (and in the photo, above) – that’s not what I got! Will the bloomstalk propagation work? I don’t know. I’m crossing my fingers. A Look at What’s On the Stands Still a few embarrassing moments here on the stands today . . . but I’m pretty excited about the possibility of another sport! This one from Mandan Dandy. Here is its description: Mandan Dandy (K. Stork) Single-semidouble dark coral frilled star. Dark green, wavy. Standard. You know that’s NOT what I got. This time it’s not a chimera, but rather a gorgeous fully double blossom! I’m excited to grow this out and see if stays true with this new double blossom. I’m going to try some bloomstalk propagation on this one, as well as leaf propagation. Get the Bail Money Ready! In 2021 the AVSA will again be having a Cyber Convention. There is still time to register!! Please check the AVSA website for events in your area. The new URL for the AVSA website is: https://africanvioletsocietyofamerica.org/ Keep Moving Forward Thank you for joining me today – I hope your days are filled with all the things you love :-) Remember, you can find All About African Violets: * On Apple Podcasts!* On Instagram!* On Pinterest!

Welcome to my Sunroom Hi Everyone! Welcome back to my Sunroom!! I am really happy to be back with you here on the podcast! Tips and Treasures I have a lot to share with you today! I took my four large Optimara plants and broke them down. I filmed so you could watch! A Look at What’s On the Stands Wow! There are some embarrassing moments here on the stands today . . . but you know I always show you the bad along with the good, and with there not being any shows near me, I confess that I’ve become a little lazy in the plant room . . . Get the Bail Money Ready! In 2021 the AVSA will again be having a Cyber Convention. Today, May 2, 2021 is the last day to register for convention at the early bird price. Please check the AVSA website for events in your area. Keep Moving Forward Thank you for joining me today – I am very happy to be back online with you. Remember, you can find All About African Violets: * On Apple Podcasts!* On Instagram!* On Pinterest!

Welcome to my Sunroom Hi Everyone! Come on in and relax for a bit. Now that the time change has happened, it really gets dark early! Tips and Treasures I have some treasure for you today! This is the final interview I have from the 2019 AVSA national convention that happened in Houston, Texas. I know you’re going to enjoy meeting Bob Kurzynski, the hybridizer of the “Jersey” series of plants! A Look at What’s On the Stands Everything is blooming!! It’s nice to see all the colors as we head into winter. Get the Bail Money Ready! In 2021 the AVSA’s annual convention will be in Atlanta, Georgia. Please check the AVSA website for events in your area. Keep Moving Forward Thank you for joining me today. I have some news: I need a break. I’ve been back at this for getting close to three years again, and we all know how challenging 2020 has been for the entire world. The pandemic is still raging all around us – PLEASE wear a mask whenever you leave the house. We are in the midst of a public health crisis. PLEASE practice the Three W’s: * Wear a mask* Wash your hands* Watch your distance Anyway – I really do need a break and with this last interview from convention last year, now seemed like a good time. I’ve decided to take a sabbatical, so his will be the last episode of All About African Violets for awhile. I will be back at some point in 2021, but I’m not yet sure when. I will still be sharing photos on Instagram so I invite you to follow me there at the link below! Thank you for watching! Thank you for all your questions! I hope you have enjoyed watching as much as I have enjoyed producing this podcast for you. I also hope you will all have a wonderful holiday season, even if you – like me – are not going anywhere :-) Again, I thank you for watching :-) Remember, you can find All About African Violets: * On Apple Podcasts!* On Instagram!* On Pinterest!

Welcome to my Sunroom Hi Everyone! Come on in and relax for a bit. One of the things that came up over and over when I asked for what you might like to see on the podcast, was the other gesneriads that I grow. So, today we are going to look at them! This episode is a little longer than usual. I hope you will enjoy it and find it to be informative! Tips and Treasures The other gesneriads in this episode include: * Streptocarpus* Columnea* Corytoplectus cutucuensis* Petrocosmea kerrii A Look at What’s On the Stands No look this week ! Get the Bail Money Ready! In 2021 the AVSA’s annual convention will be in Atlanta, Georgia. If you have photos of your plants and/or growing spaces that you’d like to share for the website, now would be an excellent time to send them in. * Show Us Your Growing spaces!!!* Show Us Your Plants!! Keep Moving Forward Thank you for joining me today, and thank you for the star ratings and reviews on iTunes and Facebook, and for the generous donations you have made via Paypal to help keep the podcast going. I so appreciate this! If you have a question, you can ask me at, Ask Annie!  Remember, you can find All About African Violets: * On Apple Podcasts!* On Instagram!* On Pinterest!

Welcome to my Sunroom Hi Everyone! Come on in and relax for a bit. I’m still collecting ideas for specific African violet-related things that you are interested in seeing on the podcast. I continue to ponder how the podcast might look in the new year, so if there are things you would specifically like me to cover, please leave a comment on this post or feel free to contact me through the Contact Us tab on the website! Tips and Treasures This episode with Richard Nicholas was filmed at the 2019 AVSA Convention in Houston, Texas. Richard passed away unexpectedly on November 22, 2018. I’m very glad I had the opportunity to sit down with him, and I’m happy to share this interview with you. A Look at What’s On the Stands Things are growing! Things are trying to bloom! Get the Bail Money Ready! In 2021 the AVSA’s annual convention will be in Atlanta, Georgia. If you have photos of your plants and/or growing spaces that you’d like to share for the website, now would be an excellent time to send them in. * Show Us Your Growing spaces!!!* Show Us Your Plants!! Keep Moving Forward Thank you for joining me today, and thank you for the star ratings and reviews on iTunes and Facebook, and for the generous donations you have made via Paypal to help keep the podcast going. I so appreciate this! If you have a question, you can ask me at, Ask Annie!  Remember, you can find All About African Violets: * On Apple Podcasts!* On Instagram!* On Pinterest!

Welcome to my Sunroom Hi Everyone! Come on in and relax for a bit. Fall is definitely here in Chicagoland! This episode is shorter than usual, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing – sometimes you just want a short break in your day :-) I would like to know if there are any specific African violet-related things that you are interested in. I’m looking at how the podcast might look in the new year and if there are things you would specifically like me to cover, please leave a comment on this post or feel free to contact me through the Contact Us tab on the website! Tips and Treasures So glad so many of you enjoyed meeting Anne Nicholas last time! I don’t have a lot to share with you this week, but I am about to start experimenting with a new potting mix! The mix is the “African Violet Mix” that the late John Cook, of Cape Cod Violets, used to sell. Heidi Dillenbeck is now selling this mix as well as John’s Wicking Mix. You can find Heidi’s Enchanted Gardens Plant Supplies on Facebook. A Look at What’s On the Stands Things are growing! Things are trying to bloom! Get the Bail Money Ready! In 2021 the AVSA’s annual convention will be in Atlanta, Georgia. If you have photos of your plants and/or growing spaces that you’d like to share for the website, now would be an excellent time to send them in. * Show Us Your Growing spaces!!!* Show Us Your Plants!! Keep Moving Forward Thank you for joining me today, and thank you for the star ratings and reviews on iTunes and Facebook, and for the generous donations you have made via Paypal to help keep the podcast going. I so appreciate this! If you have a question, you can ask me at, Ask Annie!  Remember, you can find All About African Violets: * On Apple Podcasts!* On Instagram!* On Pinterest!

Welcome to my Sunroom Hi Everyone! Come on in and relax for a bit. Fall is definitely here in Chicagoland! The days are getting shorted and the plants seem to know it. Tips and Treasures I’m very excited to share the interview I did with Anne Nicholas, last year (2019) at the AVSA convention in Houston, Texas. I think you’re going to enjoy meeting her and learning some of her secrets to growing the little ones! A Look at What’s On the Stands A good long look for you today since it’s been nearly a month since we’ve seen each other! Get the Bail Money Ready! In 2021 the AVSA’s annual convention will be in Atlanta, Georgia. If you have photos of your plants and/or growing spaces that you’d like to share for the website, now would be an excellent time to send them in. * Show Us Your Growing spaces!!!* Show Us Your Plants!! Keep Moving Forward Thank you for joining me today, and thank you for the star ratings and reviews on iTunes and Facebook, and for the generous donations you have made via Paypal to help keep the podcast going. I so appreciate this! If you have a question, you can ask me at, Ask Annie!  Remember, you can find All About African Violets: * On Apple Podcasts!* On Instagram!* On Pinterest!

Welcome to my Sunroom Hi Everyone! Come on in and relax for a bit. It’s been a lovely few days in Chicagoland, but those days are getting shorter. On my walk yesterday morning I saw a couple of trees already starting to turn! Wow! Tips and Treasures Today I have some sad news to share – Barbara Elkin – grower, hybridizer, judge, teacher, and my friend, has passed away. She was one of my mentors and was the first teacher I ever had for judging school. I’m so saddened that she is gone. The interview I’m sharing with you today was done in 2013 at the Austin, Texas AVSA convention. The sound is poor and there is a lot of ambient noise, so turn your volume up. I know that the photo I chose for the header of this post is a little blurry – it’s because we were both moving – I love it so much that I used it anyway :-) Here are the photos I mentioned in the podcast. These were both taken a few years later at the AVSA Convention in 2016 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Here is Carolee Carter with Barbara. I know that Carolee also considers Barbara a true mentor, just like I do. Photo by Neil Lipson – used with permission And here is Neil Lipson with Barbara, also taken at the 2016 Albuquerque convention. Photo by Neil Lipson – used with permission A Look at What’s On the Stands I can’t quite figure out why – when I have all this time now – I’m still not getting things accomplished with the plants! :-D Get the Bail Money Ready! In 2021 the AVSA’s annual convention will be in Atlanta, Georgia. If you have photos of your plants and/or growing spaces that you’d like to share for the website, now would be an excellent time to send them in. * Show Us Your Growing spaces!!!* Show Us Your Plants!! Keep Moving Forward Thank you for joining me today, and thank you for the star ratings and reviews on iTunes and Facebook, and for the generous donations you have made via Paypal to help keep the podcast going. I so appreciate this! If you have a question, you can ask me at, Ask Annie!  Remember, you can find All About African Violets: * Here!* On Apple Podcasts!* On Instagram!* On Pinterest!

Welcome to my Sunroom Hi Everyone! Come on in and relax for a bit :-) COVID-19 numbers around the country are still rising – so please stay home/stay safe, wear a mask when you go out, and keep washing your hands!! Remember the Three W‘s: * Wear a Mask* Watch Your Distance* Wash Your Hands Tips and Treasures The new edition of the African Violet Magazine arrived! A Look at What’s On the Stands Since I had to skip the look last time, I’m giving you a good long look today. My current collection totals 57 varieties of African violet, plus seven of the “other gesneriads.” That’s a lot for me! It remains to be seen, however, if all the leaves put down make it. And of those that make it, how many will truly thrive in my growing conditions. Get the Bail Money Ready! In 2021 the AVSA’s annual convention will be in Atlanta, Georgia. If you have photos of your plants and/or growing spaces that you’d like to share for the website, now would be an excellent time to send them in. * Show Us Your Growing spaces!!!* Show Us Your Plants!! Keep Moving Forward Thank you for joining me today, and thank you for the star ratings and reviews on iTunes and Facebook, and for the generous donations you have made via Paypal to help keep the podcast going. I so appreciate this! If you have a question, you can ask me at, Ask Annie!  Remember, you can find All About African Violets: * Here!* On Apple Podcasts!* On Instagram!* On Pinterest!

Welcome to my Sunroom Hi Everyone! Come on in and sit down! COVID-19 numbers around the country are still rising – so please stay home/stay safe, wear a mask when you go out, and keep washing your hands!! Tips and Treasures Have I got treasure for you today!! I hope you will enjoy this conversation with Kurt Jablonski. This was filmed last year at the AVSA national convention in Houston, Texas. When Kurt and I sit down together it is always a gabfest! Listen for how Kurt approaches a show – how he chooses what plants to bring – lessons he has learned about bringing plants to show – and about knowing your number. All really good things for any grower to know about! A Look at What’s on the Stands Because the interview with Kurt was long and I didn’t want to split it up, there is no look at what’s on the stands today. Get the Bail Money Ready! In 2021 the AVSA’s annual convention will be in Atlanta, Georgia. If you have photos of your plants and/or growing spaces that you’d like to share for the website, now would be an excellent time to send them in. * Show Us Your Growing spaces!!!* Show Us Your Plants!! Keep Moving Forward Thank you for joining me today, and thank you for the star ratings and reviews on iTunes and Facebook, and for the generous donations you have made via Paypal to help keep the podcast going. I so appreciate this! If you have a question, you can ask me at, Ask Annie!  Remember, you can find All About African Violets: * Here!* On Apple Podcasts!* On Instagram!* On Pinterest!

Welcome to my Sunroom Come on in to the Sunroom! While Illinois has progressed to Phase 4 of its reopening plan, we have seen a recent uptick in cases of COVID-19.  Many other states are now facing what Illinois was facing back in March and April when we were under a stay-at-home order, so please stay home/stay safe, wear a mask when you go out, and keep washing your hands!! I just realized that I completely missed a podcast episode on the 21st of June, and not only I missed it: NO ONE missed it! This helped me make a decision that I’ve been contemplating for awhile. I have decided to let the podcast Facebook page go dark.  Back in the wayback there was a lot of conversation on our Facebook page, but by the time I rebooted the podcast a couple of years ago, groups were happening, and many new African violet groups had sprung up on FB. That’s where the conversations are happening these days (as they should! :-) ).  There are multiple options for viewing All About African Violets:  You can subscribe to the podcast directly on the website and also on iTunes/ApplePodcasts. In addition, you can follow the podcast on Instagram and on Pinterest!  I would encourage you to do so, as I will be posting more in both locations over the summer to see how things go in these social media outlets. Tips and Treasures I don’t have any treasure for you today, but I was asked a great question by Geneva, about what to do after a plant has bloomed its head off, so we’re going to take another extended look at what’s on the stands. Let’s jump right in! A Look at What’s on the Stands First we’re going to look at some footage from a week or so ago, and then we’ll see today’s usual look! It was tough for me to do some serious limiting of my collection this past week. Get the Bail Money Ready! In 2021 the AVSA’s annual convention will be in Atlanta, Georgia. If you have photos of your plants and/or growing spaces that you’d like to share for the website, now would be an excellent time to send them in.  * Show Us Your Growing spaces!!!* Show Us Your Plants!! Keep Moving Forward Thank you for joining me today, and thank you for the star ratings and reviews on iTunes and Facebook, and for the generous donations you have made via Paypal to help keep the podcast going.  I so appreciate this! If you have a question, you can ask me at, Ask Annie!  Remember, you can find All About African Violets: * Here!* On Apple Podcasts!* On Facebook!* On

Welcome to my Sunroom! Hi Everyone! Come on in to the Sunroom and relax for a bit! Tips and Treasures Today most of our time will be spent checkout out the stands, but in other years, right about now would be the time when many of us would be just home from Convention. One of the things that happens at convention – at least for me – is the purchase of leaves and plantlets. And also for me, that means that I have to start to look at my stands with a serious eye to limiting my collection of plants. When new stuff comes in, some of the old stuff usually has to go. Following are links to the posts where I shared how I got about limiting my collection: How to Limit Your Collection: Part I How to Limit Your Collection: Part II A Look at What’s on the Stands This is the most beautiful my stands have looked in a very long time. I hope you enjoy this extended look! Get the Bail Money Ready! The AVSA 2021 National Convention will be in Atlanta, Georgia. Further 2021 information is not yet available. AVSA’s 2020 Virtual Convention is still available on the special website. All the presentations from the 2020 Virtual Convention are also available on the AVSA’s YouTube Channel. If you are are interested in sharing photos of your plants and growing spaces here on the website: * Show Us Your Growing spaces!!!* Show Us Your Plants!! Keep Moving Forward Thank you for joining me today, and thank you for the star ratings and reviews on iTunes and Facebook, and for the generous donations you have made via Paypal to help keep the podcast going. I so appreciate this! If you have a question, you can ask me at, Ask Annie!  And remember, you can find All About African Violets: * Here!* On Apple Podcasts!* On Facebook!* On Instagram!* On Pinterest!