gorgeous!! i love the last two pink ones.... but they are all so pretty!

So cute, every single one! Have you tried neem for your gnats? It seemed to work for me. Now I try to do it once a month.

Thanks, Sue, Strawberry Spinner is a chimera although to me it doesn't look like one really. Ozio has been such a long process. First I got a leaf that wasn't marked correctly (Ebay) and you know how long it can take to grow out a leaf to blooming size only to realize it's not the right variety at all! Then I had to start over, grrrr. I was just so excited to see it bloom - and really love it - after so much effort! Made it all worthwhile. ;-)
Melody Rose: No, I haven't sprayed with Neem - do you spray the soil? I have the yellow sticky cards up to catch adults - and they do - but it was the larvae in the soil that was unchecked. Mosquito Bits sprinkled on the top of the pot is supposed to work well to kill the larvae, I've read. It does say 'for fungus gnats in indoor plants' right on the label, too. But if I don't get results, I'll keep the tip about Neem in mind, thank you very much!

You have a bunch of lovely bloomers! I especially like Ethel's Explosion. . . very unique.

When did you restart them? From leaves?

Lovely, thanks for posting and sharing. I have struggled with Ozio. So it was good to read about your experience. You are a a good grower! I recently got Hot Foot, a Lyon's hybrid. Your Amour Elite is lovely. Mine is pale pink with blue fantasy. But, first bloom, it may improve. Ness Crinkle Blue will go on my wish list. Lily Pad is gorgeous. Ethereal Fairy is lovely. The Spinner is lovely! I found that chimeras often had a very faint stripe and were kind of fussy. Yours looks great. . My Ethel's explosion does not look anything like that, it is mostly green, the blossom has very little purple, it is mostly pink.

Joanne

Your plants are gorgeous! I have a leaf of Orzio and can't wait to see what it will do! Is Ethel's Explosion a semi miniature? Thanks! Rosie

Rosie, no - Ethel's Explosion is a standard, but a small one for me. "Semi-double to double, medium pink stars, with blue fantasy markings. A narrow white edge also surrounds the flower. Crown variegation with lots of yellow and green. Standard growing foliage."

Joanne, I'm not such a good grower; that's why I had to start over. I learned a lot about fertilizer toxicity in the last two years, that's for sure! When I say that I restarted my violets, I mean that I started leaves or I took out the crown and rooted the resulting suckers. Boy, when I overdosed them on fertilizer, they were a real mess. The advice from the All About African Violets podcast was to toss them and buy new, but I was just stubborn enough (and cheap enough!) to want to see if I could bring them back. Mostly I did, although there were some I nursed a long time and finally pitched. Luckily I had some leaves I bought and got in a round robin last year so I had some uncompromised starts as well. So that's why I don't have any really large violets at the moment - and mostly I had no blooms at all for almost a year. It's been a long time coming back from a very stupid mistake!
Interestingly enough, many of the violets that made it through my over-fertilizing are more beautiful now then they were before the "accident" - more colorful! Amour Elite used to bloom like you were describing - pale with just a hint of color. Ness' Crinkle Blue had absolutely no white edge, ever. Now it is heavily outlined. Ethel's has always had heavy purple patches, but the purple and pink are more vibrant now. Maybe I'm just doing a better job growing, but they seem happy right now. (Knock on wood!) ;-)

Oh I'm sorry! In the pix it looked like it had small leaves! Whatever size it is,,,it is truly beautiful! Rosie

Rosie, That was a a good question.

Anne, Yes, the violets do seem to respond to extra attention, don't they? I agree about All About African Violets, I never would have thrown out my collection just for over-fertilizing as I like to grow and see if I can reverse the damage.

Right now, mine look like a lettuce patch, but that is beginning to change, and I honestly don't mind all the green.

Joanne

Well, if ya wanna talk lettuce,,,,,lol I have more leaves in K-cups than I do plants!!!! Actually looks kinda like a lettuce patch if you squint real hard! lol

Anne,,,I understand about putting alot of time into rescussitation! (did I spell that correctly???) Anyway, I am still nursing a few that may or may not be circling the drain from when they got frozen when the furnace went out this winter. But, I can't replace the varieties. You know how it is when a violet you fall in love with came from Meijer and is gulp,,,here we go again! A NOID.!!!!! AND I can't find the name on the Optimara site. I am sure it is an Opt. because I bought the two together and I called them the twins. They are identical except for color and one of them is turned out to be Hawaii. Now picture Hawaii only instead of blue,,,,substitute a nice rich pink with the same white edge. Looks like Hawaii in every respect except for the pink instead of blue. Oh man were they ever pretty side by side! Any ideas????? Rosie

I'm going to have to get a Ness' Crinkle Blue. It seems to "behave" so well, and I love it's really dark leaves!

rosie - could it have been flamenco?

Hi Su, On another thread, you posted a pic of your shelf. Excuse me for responding here ... however, it is a nice shelf! (I gave a Manitoba large, light blue single pansy, to a friend who wanted light blue, but she said she wanted a double light blue. She will give it to her sister if she decides not to keep it. that is my update, just wanted to share.) Joanne

Joanne - thank you! I just posted another thread where I have another picture of those shelves. :-) I also made a happy discovery... I decided to use an old dry sink type thing with three shelves in front of a south window.. and if I have it about 8" from the wall, the second shelf gets good enough light to put rooted leaves on it! And then I have my cactus plants and other misc. houseplants on the bright top shelf right in front of the window. I have one lonely little grow light.. and I'm considering using that on the very bottom shelf of the dry sink... but I don't need the space yet, so I'm not even gonna go there yet. I just have my extras on the middle shelf on the dry sink... I have lots of duplicate leaves, so I have all of the doubles downstairs. I am a compulsive organizer.... and somewhat of a fanatic in some ways when it comes to organizing. So It felt SO GOOD to get things organized there... with extras downstairs and keepers upstairs. ;-)

It really freed up my space to use that dry sink! ;-) So now I have TWO shelving systems in south windows... both with natural light for my violets... and then of course I have the plant table in front of my west window.. and a desk in front of an east window. It works pretty good.. and I love growing by natural light!

Ohhh... I wish I lived closer! I would give one of your Manitoba a home! I'm glad you found someone to give it to though! I'm curious, how does Manitoba color compare to Natalie color?

Su

No Su, It definitly is not Flamenco it is a soft medium pink with a distinct white edge. The flower is identically shaped like Hawaii. Rosie

Rosie, I have never seen an O like that in recent years. I would like to, though!

Su, I answered on another thread. I have plenty of Manitoba's and will save you a leaf. The lady requested light blue, for two years, or more. I have been trying to grow out some doubles and semi doubles for her. But they are slow to grow. First, I have to do the research to find some, then I have to grow them. Then if a plant looks good, I have to start a leaf. So we are talking two to three years. That was why I gave her the Manitoba. She keeps asking, that was the only light blue I had ready to give away. However, it is not a popular plant to give as a gift, I have learned. Most people want the more dramatic colors.

The same lady also wants a double white. That would be another whole topic, so I will close for now.

Joanne

Joanne you just wait til that little thing blooms again! Took a beating when the furnace went out, but I think she will be ok. I will be sure to post a pix! You will think you are looking at Hawaii except it is a really nice pink! White edge and all !!! Rosie

Hi, AnneCecliia,

The photos are so helpful. My supposed Amour Elite does not resemble your photo. It is pale, a look-alike rather than the real thing. I got it at a plant sale, it was labelled. Another plant was named O Modesty, but when it bloomed, it is not the same, it is single, the original is semidouble. It could be that the owners hybridize their own. Maybe they develop passable look-alikes that grow well in their outdoor environment. They are a small, private greenhouse, growing just for local folks. A commercial grower does the same, selling named O varieties plus their own unnamed look-alikes.

The focus locally is more on well-grown plants rather than on named varieties. If I had not started to read this forum a few years ago, I would not have gone on to learn about the various named varieties. Most of what I know is from the internet. Clubs here focus more on actual growing conditions, such as potting mixes, treatments, etc. Joanne

Yes, the internet has been my heaven (and downfall) for learning (and acquiring) named varieties of AV's - and roses, too. Who knew in the pre-computer days there were so many choices out there? Now I have to slap my hands every time I see something new that I want - where are you going to put it, I ask myself. Usually self says, Oh, you'll find a place somewhere. LOL. The only AV clubs in Michigan are south of Lansing so up here at the tip of the mitten I am hundreds of miles away from shows and such. I do belong to a rose society but it is based in Traverse City, 90 miles away and I rarely get there these days. That group is just full of serious enablers, so I'm better off not hanging out with them too much anyway. ;-) Since I have no local mentors, the i-net is where I get my education on how to grow, too - that and the learning I do by my mistakes!

Well, Anne, there are no AV clubs or groups near me, not even close. AND I am south of Lansing! But you are right,,,,,you are waaaaaay up top of the mitten! I like doing things thru this group. Such nice people! Rosie

PS. Yes this group does have some serious enablers in it also! lol

Anne Cecilia, The tip of the mitten, how cute, I never heard that before. It is appropriate for Michigan.

I am so happy, we just put in three Joseph's Coat rose bushes! I never saw it before moving to Calif. It is amazing, the blooms in their life cycle go through three different color changes, so the bush is covered with golden yellow, peach, tangerine, and coral red blooms. It is a profuse, fragrant bloomer. More of an outdoor plant than a cut flower bush. It is a rose for a a warm, dry climate with minimal frosts.

What do people do at rose meetings? Reading about rose care seems more complicated than tending them.

Oh, to make this on topic, sort of ... I will try fertilizing the pale Amour Elite.

Saturday is our club's violet sale to the public, so I am bringing in a batch and others are buying a lot locally from a local AV nursery. Joanne

Rosie - no, I would imagine there is no club close to you down in the southeast corner. I think there are two listed on the AVSA website, somewhere between Detroit and Ann Arbor? Not a lot for such a large state! I did go to the plant sale held by the Ann Arbor club one year when a visit with my sister who lives relatively close to there happened to coincide and it was wonderful - I bought a whole box of AV's and streps.

Joanne - your club's sale sounds terrific. Wish I was there! Joseph's Coat is a beautiful climber, but one I've only seen in photos. It's not cane hardy in zones 4 or 5, which covers most of Michigan. I know folks who have tried hard to grow it, but no luck. And yes, at rose society people discuss new varieties, how to grow, history, pest management, take field trips, garden tours, hold classes for garden crafts - and eat lots of desserts! ;-) It's great to be among like-minded people. So this site is my club for AV's - minus the sweets, of course. I don't know how my Amour Elite got so colorful this time around. I don't have any photos of it in bloom from a couple of years ago, but it was as you describe: very pale with only a hint of color. I was seriously going to chuck it anyway before the great fertilizer disaster. Now it, along with everything else in bloom has the most large and colorful blooms ever. I'm fertilizing with 3 drops/quart of Schultz Plant Food (10-15-10) at every watering (when the directions call for 7 drops so that's less than half strength,) and flushing once a month with clear water. The biggest change in care is that I'm mat watering now, so could more consistent watering be what helped? Otherwise, it is the same soil, same light stand or window, same temperatures in the house. Who knows?

Mornin' Anne,,,,I would love to go to the Ann Arbor Club show, but I am hesitant to go alone and as I have previously stated, I have absolutely NO people to share my love of ANY indoor plant let along violets or streps! I also have no sense of direction (thank goodness for onstar!) so that makes it a little harder. AND not knowing the "lay of the land" once I get to the actual building where the show is,,,,well,,,,,very confusing for me. I don't think I am far from Ann Arbor. Maybe half an hour to 45 minutes so says my husband! And no he would not go with me to the sale. Nor would I want him to! I don't even take him grocery shopping with me! Everytime I put something in the basket he looks at it and says "don't we have that at home? Do we really need that??? Yes (I say thru gritted teeth but in a nice tone of voice) we have some left but not enough to do anything with. AND we repeat the process down the aisle for something else. Then I started telling him to go to the automotive dept. That didn't work well. Now can't you just see him with me as I ponder plants? Something that can't be cooked or eaten (yes, in one of my AV mags, someone did "sugar" some AV flowers. Not gonna happen!) and he already thinks (silently to himself) I have enough of????? HA! right. He is such a great guy. Puts up with me!

Sooooooooo,,,,,Once again! THANK GOODNESS for this group!

As far as Joseph's Coat Rose, I had one for years and years! Yep, zone 5, southeastern Michigan! Beautiful rose. I just loved it! Rosie

Hi Anne C, That is encouraging about the Amour Elite.

Rosie, interesting that you have Joseph's Coat!! It is such a fun plant. I think here it comes in both bush, climber and trailer. If it starts to climb, we can put in a trellis.

My O Modesty really blossomed. I judged it too soon. The flowers are an amazing semi double wasp, just fantastic.

Joanne

Forgot to say that my Joseph's Coat was indeed a shrub/bush. I had to leave it when we moved and didn't think to dig some up. That was over 30 years ago. I still remember the colors and believe it or not,,,,,I still miss it. Rosie

I did not know it was 30 years or more! I thought it was a new one. Just new to me! Joanne

Joanne - actually longer. Joseph's Coat was introduced in 1964. And Rosie, now that you say it was a shrub/bush, I understand - I've had "climbers" like that...not hardy enough to live tall through our winters, not quite tender enough to die out completely, I've always seen them as a disappointment, looking at them as a glass half empty. You were smart enough to see it as half full and find pleasure in the blooms. Good for you.

Anne, it was there when we bought the house, just a little bit of a shrub. When it bloomed I thought it was the most beautiful thing! I just left it alone and honestly didn't know it was a climber. Just enjoyed it for what it was. I always remembered it though and the last few years I have looked for one that wasn't a climber. Can't find one. Maybe I should just buy one and hopefully it won't climb? lol My luck,,,,,,,,,but like you said "glass half full etc." Rosie

Since 1964, eh? Here they have shrubs as well as climbers. Wonder if you could just order one from a Home Depot in Calif and have it shipped? They cost a little more than others. Once we put them in the cart, other customers realized what we had and were also were trying to find them. We needed three and got the last three.*

Each stem has roses in three or more colors. I have never seen anything like it. The fragrance is very light, almost fruity. Not the "typical' perfumey rose fragrance (which I also love.)

It might have the "black bug" thing, though. Or maybe just needs more water as they are quite prolific.

* I understand the fact that I have made a selection helps others realize what is a good one, so they want that one, too, it is like advertising for the store. However, we had gone to the store hoping to find that particular rose and needed three and were fortunate enough to find three. So this time, I was not willing to share. I like having several of the same close together. They are so colorful, so they look like an assortment, anyway. It is just fun to have such amazing colors. Joanne