Thank you for your nice comments, Joanne. I have learned a great deal from all of you on this forum. I am just a casual grower, but from advice of some here, I did watch all 100+ of the All About African Violets episodes before they were discontinued. I also enjoy learning from books so I have some that have been recommended and I joined AVSA mainly for the magazines. I don't plan to ever be more than a casual grower but truly enjoy seeing the pictures and reading the posts here.

I bought Playful Kisses at a local nursery that I frequent way too often. The tag just said Playful Kisses, but when I googled it, it does seem to be a Lyon's hybrid. It had a fairly large sucker when I got it which is now a nice sized plantlet thatI will be giving to my daughter-in-law.

It looks like Playful Kisses to me - red on dark pink fantasy is rare. There are always variations from plant to plant, and from one house growing conditions to another - but I looked at the First Class - and seems like it is it.

Great Job!

Royals Fan, Thanks for sharing and welcome to the chat! Your photos are terrific. Those All About African Violets podcasts were fun! On You Tube, it is possible to find some old vintage videos posted by the AVSA! I found some interviews with Anne Tinari and Jeff Eyerdom! The magazine is fun, also. For many years, I did much more reading than growing! But when the time was right, I took up more active growing, thanks to, ahem, the "enabling" of Dear Irina and a couple of others! My "DIL" was also enchanted with violets but in their own home environment, it was a bit of a challenge. The plants do take some special attention, alas. That is why I now do better when I have more time to devote to them. I think we all know what you mean about spending way too mud time in a nursery. Joanne

Beautiful plant ...

That is one gorgeous AV! I'm a sucker for variegation but those blooms are delightful too - and I just might have to add Playful Kisses to my want list. Thanks for posting your photos.

Lovely plant

Thank you everyone. I've been amazed at the plants that all of you have been posting. I only own 3 plants with IDs and 4 or 5 others, two of which are minis. I could never get anything to bloom in our previous home because we were surrounded by lovely old trees so there was never enough light. I was also working full time and had a plant eating cat. Since then, I've retired, moved to a home that gets some sun and unfortunately, our cat is no longer with us. Now I have my few African violets, a few orchids along with some cacti and succulents.

I knew nothing about leaf propagation but now have several plantlets as a result of reading books, watching videos and avidly following your posts!

Joanne, I will check out those AVSA videos. Thanks!

Royals fan, so sorry about your cat.

Very beautiful! violet! I love the variegation and the beautiful flower color. You know, it only starts with one violet!!!!! Oh now where is that darn wish list!?!? Rosie

Royals Fan, I can relate to your growing situation, as my story is the same! Sounds like you have a nice assortment of plants. My "advice" is if you have successfully grown such a gorgeous AV as Playful Kisses, then you have already started out at the top! You truly don't need many more. Mayabe the nursery where you bought it used Epsom Salts to restored the variation to make for a stinger plant to give it a good start. Perhaps Optimara Modesty might make a nice companion plant. It has clear purple stars or pansy shape with nice variegation that varies from white when young to more green when older. The variegated plants maintain themselves at a nice size, they don't get too large. Joanne

Thank you for the suggestion, Joanne. We have a few nurseries around here but only one carries African violets and they don't carry Optimaras. Of course we also have BBS, but as you know, they are rarely labeled and I've yet to see a variegated one. I am not into ordering plants or leaves yet. Maybe I will eventually find something similar to Optimara Modesty at the nursery.

The nursery did have a Fisherman's Paradise the last time I was there, but it would have been a rescue effort. It wasn't in very good shape. Their selection was limited so I bet they will be getting a fresh shipment soon.