AFRICAN VIOLET SHOW & SALE
The Baltimore African Violet Club
Harford Mall on Bel Air Road, Bel Air, MD
Friday, May 11, 10am-9:30pm (Show will not open until 2pm after judging is completed)
Saturday, May 12, 10am-5pm (both show & sale).
For sale will be hundreds of beautiful African violets and other exotic houseplants, leaves, cuttings, and many growing supplies including soil mix, plant rings, self-watering pots and more. Experienced growers will be there to answer any growing questions. Free admission.
Baltimore Violet Club Violet Show and Sale
Wish I could be in Maryland in May! I have never been to an African Violet Show! I'm afraid I'd Max out every Credit Card if I were to attend! There's a local Garden/Home show here in Daytona Beach every year, the past two years there was more Home than Garden, only one plant vendor this year - Orchids! I was told all the Plant Vendors stayed away this year because of the $5,000 fee they would have to pay to attend. There was a table set up in a back corner with two ladies from the local AV Club, a very small club locally - I went to my first meeting last week. It's very informal and not well attended. There were only 8 of us total and 3 of us were new! They do get together and go to shows around Central Florida, so hopefully I will get to go to a nice AV Show before this year is over!
Can't wait to see some Beautiful Pictures from the Maryland show!
Sure would be fun to have you with us, Lin. The Baltimore Cub has been around for a very long time with many exceptional growers. You would love it. I grew a few large standards but I can see now they won't have the necessary amount of bloom.
Great you have a local group to hook up with. Hopefully, you can add some new members.
I will take some photos of the Baltimore show. Will be so thrilling seeing all the gorgeous violet and other gesneriad showplants.
Oh, I can't wait to see your photo's! I bet that is a large show, being in a big Metropolitan area! Attendance is probably very high, I would think.
Now see ... I'm so new, I don't have a clue about "showing" plants .... you have to have a certain amount of blooms?
Yes, Lin. When a plant is judged 50 out of 100 points go to blossom. Here is the breakdown:
Symmetry or leaf pattern....................25pts.
Condition (cultural perfection)............25pts.
Quantity of bloom.................................25pts.
Size and type of blossom...................15pts.
Color.....................................................10pts.
A good article on growing showplants but is helpful just for some growing tips one can apply to plants grown strictly for enjoyment.
http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:tyWFLdjaFqMJ:www.avsa.org/AVMFiles/AVJudging-Beginner.pdf+violet+point+score+blossoms&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us
Oh, Thanks for that info and that link! I don't know that I would EVER get to the point where I would Grow to Show, but I enjoy learning and readng about it all anyway!
I do have a question for you. Someone showed me one of those leaf rings and told me it forces or trains the leaves to grow down and out instead of up .... since the rings go under the leaves, how does it keep them from growing up?? I am real confused about that! My mental picture is that the ring is underneath the leaves, so it's not forcing them downward. I am ral curious about that!
.... going to check out that link now!
No, the support rings are just what they say they are. They 'support' the foliage. Very helpful in many ways. Symmetry is easier to see. The lower leaves get more even light. One of the best things is the leaf petioloes don't rest on the pot edge.
Oh, thank you! I just kept thinking, it didn't make sense to me what she was telling me. And, she didn't want to discuss it further, so I have been wracking my brain trying to figure it out! I shoulda googled it like I do everything else.
Sure appreciate your help! I printed out the info from the link above so I can refer back to it. One of my problems is retaining stuff! I have to read and re-read things all the time!
Have you been growing violets for a while, Lin? If not, the more experience you have with them the easier it gets just like everything else. You do have such a green thumb with all the lovely plants you grow. Every rooted houseplant cutting you sent in our trade is beautiful, healthy and doing so well. I want to thank you again for your generousity.
I have posted this before, but if you haven't seen it, it is so nice to watch. From the AVSA library a....
Photoshow:
Click to view the Florida Council 2006 Show in West Palm Beach
http://www.avsa.org/Library.asp
Oh Snow, you are so very welcome! I'm so glad everything arrived in decent shape and is doing well!
I have only grown one or two AV's over the years. I have been growing all kinds of house plants for 40 years, but not so many violets. My Mother in Law is the first person I knew to grow African Violets, she only had a couple, but showed me how to root leaves in water (back in 1968-1969). They grow much stronger and healthier roots in soil as opposed to the water method, as I've learned over the years. She used to have great luck with the water method, and healthy plants. I didn't really learn a lot about AV's until joining DG this past October! I never knew there were so many different types of blooms, foliage etc. Had never seen one with variegated foliage until I found this "Garden"! I am learning a lot and having fun in the process too! I don't think I will ever get to the point where I will want to "Grow to Show", but I learned long ago to NEVER say never! :)
No, I have never seen that Photoshow! I'm going there now! I just came in from working out in the yard all afternoon, but my shower and dinner can wait! Actually, we aren't eating til later anyway, my hubby went with a friend of his to help install a computer for someone!
Later .... gotta go watch the show!
Snowrose- I will be at the show! I use to live in BelAir and would love to have an excuse to stop by and see everything. I have never been to an AV show. If you would like me to bring a strep like the one I posted in the other tread, let me know and I can get one for you they are 10 dollars. But as you saw worth every dime!
Colleen
I am learning so much.....I will never grow to show, but this is all so nice to know.....I think I will order some of those rings....I am really getting to be horrible about these plants....to make space on all the gro-light stands,I am going through all Av's this weekend and getting rid of anything ordinary looking except what I love!!! This lady at the hardware store thinks they are all beautiful and she keeps them growing in the front glass floor to ceiling glass of the store. It is hard to part ....but part...I must...