January blooms

Here is a pretty little bloomer. Its a mini, growing in a 2" pot.

It is pretty!

That is so pretty!

Tish,
I love your creative talents!!

No, Not me...it was a gift!

Lovely gift!!

I have a nice bloomer in a 2" pot, too . . . very nice pink one!

And the best part is...they will always be in bloom and are pretty much care free!!!! What more could you ask for a stunning little a.v. like that one???!!! Aren't they just adorable? Love, love, love it!!!

Connie

True and it can go in low light areas too!

A violet club member was asked to go speak about the plants to a garden club...she asked me to go along with her. The garden club only expected one person to come and had bought a thank you gift for her, and I said that was alright, I had just come along and didn't expect anything, really. But they had these silk potted violet plants as table decorations and she gave one of those to me saying I probably didn't want a fake one...I told her how wrong she was that it was very nice to have one that didn't need water!

tish

How funny!!!

i have a pink one, adorable, also a gift.
mrsbonnie

Hi everyone,

Is this AV Optimara Maine? I got it at Home Depot a few years ago where they frequently have Optimara cultivars. Alas, the pot had no name tag.

Joseph

Joseph (Happy New Year!) -

Very pretty! From the looks of the bloom, it could be Optimara Maine. It could also be Optimara Main II. Can you post a picture of the leaves?

Optimara Maine (6568) 05/25/1987 (Holtkamp) Single white/purple shading. Medium green, plain. Standard

Optimara Maine II (8963) 01/31/2001 (Holtkamp) Single white frilled sticktite/purple-blue eye, wide purple edge. Medium green, plain, glossy, hairy. Standard

There are a few other Optimara plants that fit the bloom description in FC2.

Unfortunately, there are many thousands of African Violets . . . . that is to say, un-named African Violets, as well as named. I would not put it past some growers to offload their breeding "rejects" to the big-box stores.

Still, like I said, it is very pretty!

Syrumani,

Happy New Year to you as well!

Thanks for all the useful information. I will post a leaf photo later on tonight.

Joseph

Lilypad: That is a beautiful Beaded Violet ... whoever made that is very talented, so cute! What a great table decoration, and they would sure be a great gift to any violet lover!

Nichole: Is the pink one you have in a 2" pot a beaded AV too? Please show us!

Gerris2: What a beautiful, shimmery bloom, I love the color on that Optimara! We used to get a lot of the Optimara's here at our Home Depot and Wal-Mart garden centers too, but none show up at Wal-Mart any more and very few at HD.

Hi Joseph!!! It's been a long time. How are you doing? Did you ever get your translation for your book done?

Melanie

Thanks, plantladylin!

Meag, I got just a couple chapters translated. Just enough to be dangerous with JMGs LOL. It's an expensive activity, so that activity is on hold.

plantladylin - here is my newest prize. Ain't she beautiful?

Nichole: Those beaded violets are the neatest things I've seen in a long time ... someone is very talented! So cute!

Syru,
Mine is much like yours.Shall we let everyone know who this talented,generous lady is??

LOL,Lynn

Very pretty. The pictures make them look bigger than they are. I had to take my "plant" outside to take the picture...just like real violets, the color wouldn't come true with the indoor pic I had tried first !

tish

Here are 2 views of the leaves of my mystery AV; #1

and #2

Do these images help make a decision of whether it is Optimara Maine I or Optimara Maine II or some other critter? Thanks for helping to figure this ID out!

Joseph

She's pretty Gerris2!

Here is my purple panda

Pretty, GrowHappy!

Joseph, I don't think your plant is either of the Maine's. If anything, I think it's closer to the Optimara Alaska II. Here is a description of that one:

Optimara Alaska II (8306) 12/14/1995 (Holtkamp) Single white frilled/blue center, edge. Medium green, plain, pointed, hairy, wavy, serrated. Standard

Your pictures fit the description better. Really, though, names are not horribly important, unless you were going to enter in a show.

Whoever she is she's very pretty!!
Shanika your little panda is adorable.

Picture perfect Purple Panda!!! PURDY!!!!! :)

I love streps but they don't grow well for me. I'm keeping Alissa alive, it is two years now and no bloom yet! tish

Tish, I have a leaf down of Alissa and she has been one of the slowest to make babies. I mean awfully slow! I see a smidgen of an ear, that's been there for at least two weeks. So, maybe she's a shy bloomer too. The same with a leaf of Texas Hot Chili(strep). I've had it down since September and no babies!!! I told Jim I wanted to toss her because of that and he told me to be patient because she's a slow grower. So, I put my patience hat on and went and sat down in the corner. LOL

Here is Helter Skelter- God, I love this bloom! I think this is my favorite David Thompson hybrid. I'm partial to yellow centers on any strep, though.

A difficult one to photograph- the purple is so rich, this pic doesn't do it justice. Dracula's Shadow- another great by David Thompson

Kentucky Gooseberries (wish all the blooms would open at the same time!)

Great pictures Shanika!! The K. Gooseberries you sent me has babies!! I can hardly wait till it blooms!!

Lynn

From our Secret Santa LOL. So clever !!

I only have 2 blooms to share.
C. Firebird never stops.

This is from Turtlechi....but we need a name.

Shanika,
I have a baby Firebird just planted.Shall I put your name on it ??