African Violets and Gesneriads: lurker breaking silence!, 1 by goofybulb

goofybulb wrote:
Hello, everyone!

My name is Alexandra. My first ever post in the AV forum happened last week, when I took the chance at strep seeds that Brenda so kindly shared. Right now, they are sown and I'm waiting, they will be my first ever streptocarpus babies. Thank you, Brenda, again!

A few years back, I had a few AVs (well, about 15 of them...). I loved them, as I had the AV bug from my mother and they reminded me of home. My father also got bit by the bug, and before I left my childhood home, there was a fierceful competition between the 3 of us! My American-grown AVs were some spoiled fat kids with lots of blooms, and very fond of Tchaikovsky. Unfortunately for them and me, when my mom got sick, sicker and then passed away, I didn't care for them as I should have and lost them all. Same happened with my Dad's back home, however he still has one.

This December, my Dad came to visit and stay with me and hubby for about a month, and I wanted to gift him some AV leaves, to re-start his collection. The weather was against my wishes, and his present arrived later, after he went back home. So, I took it upon me to baby his leaf gifts. Until I go home to visit, or he comes to our house. That's when I started, albeit silently, visiting this forum, and reading up the propagation threads and Critter's articles (I knew the basics, but I will consider myself a beginner, because of the harsh, dry climate I moved it a year ago). They are all in the process of rooting right now, and I'm waiting for "ears", as you call them, any day now.

While I don't have any pretty pictures yet, I thought it would be nice to pop in and say hello. The AVs will always have a special place in my heart, and hopefully I'll be good enough to them here in the desert, have beautiful blooms to show and new friends to see them.

Hugs,
Alexandra

(this is my father's AV and a few babies)