Beautiful ...

Wow, I have been in love with mySensation since before I was brave enough to try growing AV's. I have yet to see one locally, great score!

I have always loved things that were off the beaten path. Like you, the first time I saw it on the Optimara page I wanted one. I figured since it was release just recently (2014) it would be a cold day near the equator before I would see it locally. I mean,,,WOW,,,,,green and white!!!! And who ever thought it would be on its last leg at my Lowe's!!!!! Oh boy I got my happy little hands on it faster than you could say violet!

In about another week I will put it on a wick system. My goal is to have all my violets on them. So much easier to water/fertilize. I just love it! And since I brought it home a few more flowers opened! I am just soooo thrilled with it! Rosie

You found My Sensation in a Lowe's?!!. I am so, as we say in these parts, jelly!. The Lowe's in my area never have any of the interesting (to me) Optimaras.

Yep! I sure did! Actually Lowe's and Meijer are the only source for violets offered locally. No one else has them. Walmart has only had them twice that I could see but I don't go there that often.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it. AND it was the only one that had a bloom so I could see color AND the overall condition of the plant was excellent! I mean,,,,you can see it in the pix! I have had it about 2 weeks now. I am convinced it was just waiting for me!!! So I bought it!!!! Yay me!!!!! I am so happy!!! Rosie

I guess I'm lucky. The Pikes Nursery near me has a bunch of My Sensation.

I tried to post pictures yesterday from the Houzz app on my phone to this forum, but it's not user friendly at all!

You are lucky to have a nursery near you. We have nurseries but all they sell are the bedding plants for spring. Rosie

I have some nurseries I could go to, but they are not open to the public. I tried the my violet alert this year and the only time told me any were shipped was to this nursery.

You mean the alerts from Optimara? I have signed up several times and they alert me to nothing. Never heard from them once and our Lowe's and Meijer always gets the Optimara violets in. Rosie

I signed up for the alerts too and got one last week, but Pikes said they didn't get any in. I didn't go to the Lowes that the alert said got them as I didn't have time to drive a couple towns over.

Are any of you on any other forums that are easier to use than here?

Are you having difficulty using this forum? Maybe we can help? At first I found it very difficult but I figured it out and it is really easy. Rosie

I think I just have to stick to my iPad and not my phone. Too bad as my phone takes much better pictures.

Is there a way you can take pix from your phone and email them to your IPad? That would solve the problem, (I think). I have heard several people say their phone wasn't the best thing to use for this (and maybe other) forum sights. Rosie

Beautiful violets Rosie!

I picked up mySensation at a Kroger store back in June and just did get around to taking cuttings a few weeks ago. What impresses me is that it's always full of blooms.

I tried to get MySensation on Ebay....none to be had. ALAS

Leon, I was sure I had just seen a mySenasation plant on ebay and alas I found it and it has been sold. :( I provided the link in case you would like to inquire about it with the seller or if you can wait until spring, my cuttings should be starter plants by then and I'd be happy trade for another starter plant or a few leaves.

Here's the link to the auction

Rosie-

Name of your trailer is "Opera Doc".

It is a very interesting one! Miniature trailer with blush pink and green double flowers. Very cool.

Regarding MySensation and MySunshine... I do not think they are THAT special. I picked starters on our Council sale, grew them to show - and sold them off the Show table. MySensation holds flowers forever - a green one - but they are quite small - just like on Rosie's pic. MySunshine is pretty white with a greenish yellow tint. They are both pretty durable plants - but the best in them is the NAME.

Irina, the spoilsport.

Selective Gardener has both My Sensation and My Sunshine plants for sale now. $15, $20 - AND SHIPPING. So if you guys want them - go ahead.

http://www.selectivegardener.com/featured.html

I would prefer to get a carton of a wonderful Washington wine instead...

The Spoilsport.

Emmsmom thanks! I do love the flowers and the leaves. I just have always loved all kinds of 2 toned things!

Irina yes,,,,my little trailer is Opera Doc. Thanks for the description, I think it will be very pretty! And MySunshine sounds like something I would like to have also! But not at those prices!!! LOL Rosie

I liked mySensation because it was different and at $1, I wasn't going to pass it up even though I probably would have paid full price for it.

That's the proper attitude! For $1 - it is a bargain - for $25 - highway robbery!

A dollar!!!!???? One dollar????? OMG I would have snagged it for that also! WOW! What a score!

You are right Irina! Don't people know they can order it from Optimara and it will cost far less than the ridiculous price they are paying on Ebay??? Before anyone takes offense,,,,,sometimes places like Ebay ARE highway robbery! Rosie

Rosie -

eBay is a strange place - it all depends who is buying. One week the same variety goes for $$$, next week - there are 5 sitting and no takers. Some people are very competitive - and they will be bidding just for the heck of bidding. It is like - here goes my rent money - but I will not give up. Leaves are usually very inexpensive - unless it is something new or shipped from overseas. If you want something - make sure that you are checking every Sunday - and sooner or later you will pick it up for a low price. Cheaper than from a Selective Gardener for sure. Now it is an end of a season - so the sellers are shedding their overstock.

Yes, I found mine along with six other Optimaras for $1 each at a Kroger store back in June. I was on my way to relieve my Mom at the hospital where my grandma was and stopped to pick up some snack items. Outside the store was two carts full of overwatered, underwatered and beaten AVs which were stacked on top of each other. I looked through the cart looking for the ones in bloom and then looking at the crown to make sure there were no signs of rot. The mySensation was in another cart inside the store and it was in much better shape, except that several of the leaves were broken. I ended up buying seven and packed them inside my cooler and had my mom take them home with her so they wouldn't roast inside the car. I did lose one, but 7 plants for $7 is hard to pass up.

Good going emmsmommy!!!!! My kind of score! Rosie

I hope they all are different ;-)).

Hmmm - were they giving them away for free...WOULD YOU TAKE THE WHOLE LOT?

Naughty

You bet I would!!!! That makes the deal even sweeter.....nothing ventured, nothing gained! Trading power!!!!!! Rosie

Rosie - you are a Gem!

Aha! thanks Irina!!!! Rosie