Can I have 5 big ones and 5 little ones?

Diana

Pixie runaround sport

Shirl's cranberry smoothie

Ness cranberry swirl

Ness crinkle blue

Pixie blue

Diana gets 50 because she's Diana ;-)

Diana Sure, 5 little ones and 5 big ones as long as the 5 little ones are duplicates of the 5 big ones.

LOL! You are mean. I can't make decisions or I wouldn't have all these leaves to set.

Nasty People.

Arctic Frost - HA HA! (As the crazy man said) I have 3 colors in this one
Mom's Fantasy - have to keep it
Harbor Blue
Candy Fountain
Feather

Darn, you people have murdered a lot of nice plants. Happy Harold may never recover.

Diana

And Skies Over Italy just turned a deeper shade of blue!

oh, my, how could i forget about Happy Harold!

- i've got to say, it was bliss when i distinguished violets by color - blue, check, white, check, red/pink, check, bicolor red, yup, dark red, yes...

A newspaper in Los Angeles asked people on the street what they would take if there was an earthquake and they had to walk out of Los Angeles. People said, Bette Midler records, color TV, family keepsakes, pets but not one mentioned food or water. One did say he would take his check book.

So which 5? Happy Harold would probably survive without being snatched and carried to safety. Doesn't need to be on the list or it already is, twice. (you thought you sneaked that one in, did you? Well, I sneaked one too.)

Karin,
You don't even have Ness' Crinkle Blue. I'd better save it for you :)
Diana

Just scored two leaves at the show yesterday ;-)

I'm efficient like that :-P

I just finished inventory on my violets yesterday (doesn't that sound efficient?) Actually, I was getting all confused about extras for trades and which had been tossed through this long winter so I thought that with more leaves coming to put down it would be good to know just what is already here...sort of if not "limiting my collection" at least knowing it. And so, from my own shelves if I had to chose this morning it would be:

1. Blue Mink
2. Cajun's Ethereal Fairy
3. Ness' Crinkle Blue
4. Ness' Satin Rose
5. Sunset Kiss

But in alphabetical order and not in order of preference because I really couldn't say which of the five is number one.

And I reserve the right to change my mind tomorrow. :o}

Anne

I like this thread. Its always enjoyable to see other grower's favorites. Mine haven't really changed for some time, but there are always a few knocking on the door!

Ode to Beauty

Wild Irish Rose

Blue Boy

Optimara EverPrecious

Victorian Ribbons

This is saving them like when you have to rehome 14 cats because you can only keep one, right? Not trying to keep the ones for posterity or anything.

Terri,
I might keep some of yours if I had them although I didn't keep WIR one time. I'm thinking of getting it again and looking for a Blue Boy. I got a leaf of Ode to Beauty - will see about that one. Victorian Ribbons looks pretty.

Karin,

Good job. I hope it's a nice one.

Diana

Except for a couple, I haven't grown any on the lists. My experience with Ness is very limited so thats another area to explore! I have grown Feather, but not for long as it didn't like my conditions. . . too bad because it is so lovely. Harbor Blue is so nice & I know it is very popular. Normally, I don't pick up too many blues, not because I don't like them, ( I do!) but because I grow a number of species and I have the color covered.

WIR is a variety that takes a couple of years to attain its true beauty. Many people don't care so much for the flowers but I do as they are different & definitely not the usual ho-hum pink.

Terri

For today ...

Optimara Modesty

Pow Wow

The King

Frosty Cherry

Snowy Skies

I had a beautiful WIR. I threw it out because it looked so perfect that I found it totally boring. (I kind of cringe too but that's the truth.) Genetic Blush was another very nice, very boring plant. However, I thought I might give WIR another go. Well not all blues are the same but I do see your point. I like Harbor Blue in the window with the light hitting it.

I keep wondering what to do about the fact that I've known for several years that Red Rocket could drop off the face of the earth and I'd never miss it. My favorite reds are Mac's Southern Springtime and Jolly Jubilee. So far anyway,

There are a lot I haven't grown either. I'd miss my small ones but they are small :)

(Edit: I have Pow Wow and The King as babies so I'll get to see those.)

I was going to try one of the species this year, but finally gave up. Maybe another year. I was trying to read about them and seeing what was available and what I might be able to grow and I just gave up and decided it wasn't the time.

Diana in PA

i think i have 3 species now, they seem fussier than the others in regards to need for humidity... i just made it a policy to pick up whatever species came my way... tricky part is not to buy them twice, and keeping the various similar names apart at the same time....

some can grow really big, and a few of the leaf starts i have now will too... no idea how i am going to handle my literally growing collection....

i also try and pick up the more well known vintage plants, at least the ones i recognize as such. Tommie Lou, Happy Harold, Blue Boy (when i find it), etc.

as for reds, i am looking forward to my decelle's flamingo. if memory serves, i won't need another red after that :-p but just in case, i got ACA's red ember yesterday.

My NOIDs have one foot out the door. just no space for them, however hardy they are....

Chicago Flair

Instant Attraction

Willodene

and two of my no ids. :) this WILL change in about a year when i have more amazing named varieties that are just leaves for now. :)

My Violets · More Info

My Violets · More Info

Su

Those are beautiful. Noids are named varieties that don' t have a tag. It doesn't matter unless you want to trade or show the plant. Then it is honorable to state that it is a Noid.

Karin

I have a small collection of species. My humidity has been 15 to 25% for the last month. The leaves get leathery but otherwise the plants are fine. They are sensitive to light. The leaves are thin on one and that one yellows very quickly in high light.

interesting, lucky. i did place them about twice the distance from the light when i put them in their fish bowl... the grotei clones seem fine under my t5 though... go figure...

Karin

Each one is different. I grow in natural light. One of my species turns yellow, then brown, crispy with any direct sun. The hybrid variegated standards seem to thrive with an hour or so of late afternoon or early morning sun.

Also, I should correctly say subspecies or clone, as you stated clones. I don' t make the proper difference between the classification which is, in effect, turning those clones into noids :)

There are 9 species, 8 subspecies, 2 varieties and 66 clones. All grow in different conditions in the wild

For anyone interested in the breakdown of Saintpaulia species, varieties, clones, etc., you will find much information on the Gesneriad Society website.

I can't just pick 5! But here is my plan. I will COUNT the TOTAL number of leaves that 5 of my largest plants have. Say each of the 5 plants has 20 leaves, that is 100 leaves!!!! THEN [in my pea brain],,,,I will take one leaf off of each plant in my entire collection up to 100 leaves!!!! lol And start over rooting them! LEAVE NO LEAF BEHIND!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry can't just choose 5 specific plants. I like my way better!!!!!! ROFL!!! Rosie

LOL - Rosie, that made no sense at all! But maybe I'm the one with the pea brain to not follow that reasoning! :-P How about we label everything 1a, 1b, 1c... all the way to 1Z... and then start over with 2a, 2b... ... and let's see... there are how many letters in the alphabet?! If we use that numbering system then we would have the whole alphabet numbered 5 times... um..... someone else do the math..... well, we would have LOTS of violets we could keep! :-P

However you want to spin it to maximize how many I get to keep!!!! And I never said my method would make sense to anyone but me LOL LOL,,,,,,BUT having said that I understand my logic perfectly and I would be able to keep a tajillion leaves and all of you would have just 5 whole plants!!!!! Oh don't try to figure me out,,,it is all in fun anyway!!! Rosie <:]

Terrilou wrote that The Gesneriad Society website has info relating to the comments made by Karin about clones. I heard that word clone used by Jeff Smith on one of the Annie podcasts, but I did not realize he was using "horticultural speak" and not plain English. Until I read Karin's post. So thanks to both of you.

Karin wrote "Also, I should correctly say subspecies or clone, as you stated clones. I don' t make the proper difference between the classification which is, in effect, turning those clones into noids :)

There are 9 species, 8 subspecies, 2 varieties and 66 clones. All grow in different conditions in the wild."

The unstated advice is that the Gesneriad Society sounds like an organization that provides more in-depth scientific info than the AV Society does. I thought it was about "other" gesneriads, not the overall species.

One of these days, I will explore. Or hope someone comes to lecture at our club who understands all this. Or maybe we should ask Annie to make more podcasts with interviews of Jeff Smith, et al.

Joanne

Really, is it possible to choose just 5? I think I have about 20!

1. Jolly Orchid

2. Rob's Argyle Socks

3. Wrangler's Pink Patches (I think that's what this one is called, but I don't have a positive id.)

4. Kentucky Gooseberries

5. Lemon Whip

6. Little Cheyenne (because I can't choose just 5!)

Oh and 7. Rob's Dandy Lion (I don't have this one yet). :P

Lol, today's list would be different, go figure.

Fairy fountains

Happy Harold

Pacific pearl

Champagne pink

Blue Dragon

That's not even accounting for awesome varieties I want :-p

though, I admit I've been eyeing some varieties, thinking if I re-start them from a leaf they'll remain small a bit longer....

Too funny, sure I could choose just 5 plants,,,,,provided I can take unlimited leaves!!!!! lol Rosie

Of course it is ludicrous, but so what. I am not sure if I should take offense at this remark or not.

Having said that,,,,,,yep it is a very entertaining read and that is what makes threads like this give us an otherwise well needed chuckle! It is all in fun!!! Of course there is NO great answer because we are all collectors of a beautiful plant and there is not one of us that can keep just 5!!!!! There is always one more we just HAVE to HAVE!!!!!! ROFLMBO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rosie

"always one more to have" is exactly my problem with my houseplants in general. I just bought a few, but now there are different ones on my like to have list, LOL!

I know and darn it,,,,,went groc shopping today and that means I stop at Lowe's on my way to Meijer. Well nothing in the outside garden dept tickled me so I went inside to see if they had violets yet. All they had were the same sad two violets they had about a week ago when I bought Optimara Modesty. At that time, all three needed a drink but still looked good. Modesty is still fine but those poor other two were still there and were so limp they were hugging the pot.

One was white and one was an attractive dark purple with little white spots on it. I felt so sorry for them I asked the lady if she would mark them down. She did so I bought them. I didn't notice til I got out to the car that the white one had a tag that said "Ontario". Betcha it is Optimara Ontario!!!! The other one no tag. I will do my best with them.

And that is my story of how there will always be "just one more"!!!!

And someone really thinks I can just choose 5??????? lol lol lol lol Rosie

I did the same thing today. I was in McDonald's Greenhouse and saw a violet I've been looking at for over a month. It had a zillion suckers, but it still had a pretty bell-shaped bloom. I've been watching it's condition deteriorate for a month, and finally broke down and bought it. I also got another variegated mini. Neither violet had any id, and both were in pretty sad condition. And they were NOT marked down.

Geeze,,,and I thought I was the only rescuer! Rosie

I stay away from the floral departments except for one store that carried anthoflores last year. I want to go look, but no NOID will kick any of my plants off the shelf.... I am trying hard not to toss the ones I have....

It is a disorder!

Yes,,,,disorder, illness, obsession call it what you will,,,,I have it. I admit it. I am addicted, hooked and otherwise, oh. ummm, I don't know what else to call it. !!! lol

But I have fun. I love them. And the way I see it even "mutts" need a home! AND I believe all violets started out with a name. Is it really their fault the name doesn't travel with them? Whether it is lost or not provided on purpose, they all started out with a name.

I love every violet I have and will adopt more named and unnamed. I hope all of you reading this are laughing as hard as I am about my attitude about this! I am! roflmbo!!!!! I just love plants. Living things. Growing things. And I am having fun with it and hope all of you do too! It is just something fun like all of my other hobbies. OH THERE!!! That's the word I was looking for! HOBBY !!! That is what I have! A HOBBY!!!! lol lol lol lol Oh just lock me up now!!!!! But not without all of my hobby stuff!!!! Rosie (still laughing!!!)

Rosie. of course you should NOT take offense at that remark. When you get bit, the only thing that goes through your mind is … gotta have 'em all … like the kids and Pokemon. If you were offended, I would tell you to get a life, and start getting serious about your AVs. Ha! And figuring out how to infect your friends and family.

My problem is, I go to the store looking for things to … rescue from the BBS environs.

Lucky,

when I first started out and went beyond the lovely Optimaras I could buy in stores, my first five that I actually sent for were all purple/violet in color. It took me a long time to get over the purple thing! I am still not! My reasoning was that if I was going to go to all that trouble of plunking down hard cash and sending away, then it had to be the very strongest contenders. I just had to explore the purple category first! In fact, when I first heard the word standard, I mistakenly thought it referred to the color purple, not the size! I love the color purple, and it was so ingrained in me that wild violets in the garden and woods are always purple. My favorite color with pansies, also.

It is sort of like asking me what color rose? Well, "roses are red and violets are blue ... "

Anyway, it is a great marketing type of question that growers like Optimara must ask themselves all the time, because they always offer a basic collection, often, one purple, one pink and one white.

Anne, It is nice that you were able to post photos of most of these on a recent thread about what is blooming now! Not sure if I have CrinkleBlue, will be adding it if I don't!

In rereading Lucky's query, it sounds like you have narrowed this down to the ultimate basics, sort of a "back to basics" question. Diana and Karin, too, seem to go for the bare bones basic collection.

A violet club friend of mine and myself often joke that when we first started collecting violets, we both had only the solid purple pansies! It took me forever to break the sound barrier, so to speak, and buy, oh my, a pink one! Then a wine-red one! That was it, I was totally content for many years with that color combo.

Just for fun, my choices are based on extensive personal research of growing out several in each category. This is what I ended up with. For today, my one red would be a true red, (not a wine-red), (drum roll ... ) Stork's Pow Wow. It is a semi double pansy with a distinctive variegated leaf.

My one light blue would be the Optimara Manitoba. This is a "back to basics" choice. It is a very early Optimara and a very pleasing, soothing color combo with a good growth habit. It gets big and makes me look like a great grower.

My one light pink would be another Optimara, MyDelight. This is a new one. I really wanted a flower that looked like a rose. After growing out many fussy ones, such as Anne, among many others, Optimara developed one that met my need with MyDelight.

I wouldn't bother with a white. Although I have several.

I would keep a couple of deep or bright pinks like Beauty Goddess or Gentle May.

But you must allow me several of the deep, bright blues and purples. That would be Optimara Maui, Lyon's Starry Night Blue, Lyon's Midnight Waves, and Lyon's Simpler Times. Not sure about the fifth blue yet as many are growing out. Several Ness contenders.

Yes, I am very boring and basic, but these are the ones I reproduce and keep many duplicates because I also think I have done the research, so this is the basic collection everyone should have. Well, if you really shoved me against a wall, if I could have only one, that would have to be Starry Night or Maui. They are each classics and non-stop bloomers. Sorry, Midnight Waves!

But, of course, this question made me go back to basics and scour the on line catalogues to see what basic purple or blue I am missing! As if, with 200 and some odd different ones, anything could possibly be "missing."

Joanne

It is interesting that O. Manitoba is on Joanne's list. Many people on another thread said they would never be without it. It is a beautiful plant.

If I had to move into a more restricted space and only had room for 5, looking over my collection I think I would say, Skies Over Italy, Afrikanskaia Noch, Grandifolia 299, Velutina, and my one true red noid. Not that those would fit in any very tight space but those are the ones I am most interested in at the moment.

Many people have posted on this site asking the question in different ways. Most say, I don't have much room" or "I only have a small area that gets enough light." Then they ask, what plants do you recommend? So I was interested in what plants the people with larger collections would choose for themselves, not necessarily what they would recommend.

So, the vote is in, eh? Manitoba it is. It is a fun question. Until I answered it, I did not realize how fundamental a question it is! I went back and edited my comments. But every time I intend to shorten, I lengthen instead! I will have to look up the African.. Noch ... sounds intriguing. I am so glad that other feel the same about Manitoba. I used to give it away like crazy as my go-to violet for gift giving.

But I took it for granted, but when I was without it, I sorely missed it. Now I feel the same as those friends on other Groups ... I will also never be without it again. Although it is not your basic violet/purple. Nor does it have a basic, predictable, "MaryJane" kind of name. Manitoba is a very cool name. (Not sure if Karin would agree, but to me, it sounds like a refreshing blue island kind of name for a violet that is a refreshing, Cape Coddy kind of color. Just a bit understated.)

I do enjoy the "Ten most recommended" questions and answers, too, and have clipped those responses and have bought several off of Aegis' recommended list.

Also, my club VP is excellent for giving advice on the ten basic violets to have, depending on what one wants to achieve in a minimalist collection.

I saw two on the AVSA web catalogue, Sanctuary and SeaBreeze. Two that if they still existed, I would want as "basic."

Joanne

What I would recommend is not necessarily what I would choose for myself. That was the interesting part of the question for me.

Now if someone asks "what do you recommend?" I can refer them to the "What would you choose."

not sure if there is much difference to what i would choose or recommend. BUT it is all based on my own experience, the way i handle my plants, and my own preference.

if i go into quizzing the person asking about their habits & preferences, the list changes....

It came to my attention today, that several of the optimaras just don't like my environment. oh, i can grow natalie and trinidad II from a leaf to a blooming plant, but once it's in a 3 or 4" pot, it is bound to rot away within a month. i keep trying because i like those two, but as my collection and seedlings grow, they move further and further to the edge of the shelf....

also, with trading some plants and leaves, i've learned that tastes differ a lot. a friend of mine likes the exact opposite of what i grow. there are only a few plants we have in common, if we both still grow them in a year, those should probably make it to the "recommended" list.

funny how i "have to" get every single trailer i see. whereas others shy away from them completely.... same with variegation, girl foliage etc...

Karin

Helpful insights, Karin! We are all so impressionable! Reading your posts has encouraged me to get a couple of trailers. I have Ramblin' Dots that is a fun plant as it doodles along. Now that Lilac Tenderness and Wisteria are blooming, they might have to be added to my list. I recently got Trinidad II and Nathalie and Hawaii. I was surprised to read that they did not grow well for you, so I will monitor them. In order to choose the Lucky Five, we have all probably grown out many, many varieties to find out what we like. Joanne