African Violets and Gesneriads: June Flowers II, 1 by plantladylin

plantladylin wrote:
Hi everyone! I have been trying to catch up on all your wonderful blooms! I still didn't get all the way through the first June thread yet ... will go back and view more later.

GL: That Strep 'Calico Print' is really pretty ... love the color and markings in that bloom!.

TurtleChi: Glad you got a name for that lovely Strep! " Summer Parfait" - good name for that one, it is really nice.

Phoebe: "Pipsqueak" is absolutely adorable! The leaves remind me a lot of Chirita tamiana! I tried growing a couple of mini violet's once but they didn't like me. Well, I gotta be honest ... I didn't take good enough care of them!

Bonnie: Sinn. 'Heartland's Flashlight' is wonderful, love the color, but I also love the vivid red of "Red Lightning"! And, the MOST BEAUTIFUL of all is Emma Rose! She is precious, looks like a little angel! How wonderful it must be to have grandkids and great grands!

Well ... the only Gessie's I still have are the Chirita's, a couple of Chirita Tamiana's and a few Episcia's that the tags have long faded on so I have no idea what is what. I was walking around out on the deck looking for something in all the clutter, and found a gessie blooming! I couldn't believe it. I had no clue what Episcia it was since there was no label. Well, it had one new bloom opened and a faded/spent bloom which I pinched off. I knew it looked familiar but just couldn't put my finger on which one it was. Then, I remembered one of my first trades here on DG. Some of y'all may remember Starfly/Eunice? A very sweet lady, but I haven't seen her post in a long, long time. I know she used to love playing Bingo with us.

Anyway, this is a plant I got in a trade in early 2007 from DG'er Starfly. It is Episcia fimbriata Blue Heaven. Do you think maybe there's hope for me yet with Gesneriads? I tore down my stands with the lights over a year ago, and stuck everything out in the Florida room (porch) and on the deck. They were out there during the winter, and the porch is not heated. We had a few extremely cold nights, but I guess with so many plants crammed together the humidity kept the temperature raised somewhat. I am amazed they survived! I have a few Episcia's that are looking really good all of a sudden, so maybe I will have some more Gessie blooms to share before long! Keeping my fingers crossed!