Ken - welcome back to the AV fold!

Yes - it looks like Rhapsodie Michelle.

No, I doubt very much that it is "Secret Rendesvouz". Leaves and flower shape look more like Powder Keg - but PK has intense dark red color. This one is pale... may be sported..

Ken - dear - you start your third AV life by picking NOIDs and then trying to figure out what the.... they are? Give yourself a break - and get the named ones. You have plenty of green in your thumbs to get some really festive new and fancy hybrids - just several - YOU DESERVE IT! Leon just found that "bloomlovers" on ebay has a fall supersale of leaves - about $1.75-2 per pack - I think 2 minis/semis in a baggie or one standard. Her shipping is not that expensive for priority and she will combine shipping.

Irina, the Pushy Broad

Dear Irina, P.B.,

Thanks for your input on my noid ID. The SR/PK was purchased in a moment of weakness when I was waiting for some of my leaves from Bloomlovers in September. I can't recommend Tina highly enough. I don't think I need any encouragement when it comes to ordering leaves. Here's the ones that I received from Tina below. I feel kind of embarrassed to show them for obvious reasons but I am having a blast. All but 7 or 8 have babies. Don't know where I will put them all when they grow up but I was telling my wife today that when I separate the babies I can replant the mother leaves I'm sure it's OCD but it's lots of fun! Found a senior care center that will take plants for its residents so at least I have an outlet! There's also a senior activity center here too and I'll bet between pinochle and crocheting somebody would like one. So glad I finally figured out how to post pics! Way more fun! Thanks for having such a welcoming forum Hopefully some day I'll be of help to someone too. Ken

Hey Ken ...

To me, it looks like a very well grown Red Lantern. I've got a starter growing and blooming some now. I've been trying to get a photo for some time, but I haven't gotten one that I wanted to post yet.

PS Your leaf starts look great ... and I understand you're waiting on more leaves (LOL) ...

Irina ... this is the 50/60 leaf guy ...

I am supposed to be, officially, cutting back, ... but I will end up with 15 or so new leaf starts this fall.

Welcome Ken! You're not the only one with trays like that, wondering where you will put all of them when they grow up (and that's not counting any extras) but enjoying the heck out of seeing those baby plantlets. It's addictive! ;-)

Very good growing - your first photos show such nice, healthy plants. I'm certain that you've already helped someone out there just by showing how successful growing and propagation can be. So...now that you've mastered this photo thing, we'll expect to enjoy lots of great AV pics from you in future, OK? It's great to have new posters here on the forum. Glad you're here.

Anne

Curses........I'm already known as the 50/60 leaf guy! It's hard to believe how many violets there are that look so closely alike. Guess one never will know with 100% accuracy if one buys a noid. Maybe I'll just happily call it my Secret Powder Lantern and accept it as the first purchase that caught my eye when I was just getting started. It'll hold a special, unnamed place in my heart

Aegis,. Thanks for your input on red lantern. It does look very similar and yours is a beautiful plant too. I started ordering more leaves last night but stopped before I hit send - its supposed to snow here next week and not doubt it will be too cold when they arrive. Will wait til spring

Anne - thank you for the encouragement. It's nice to have the support of others in the hobby. So far everyone that I've asked that has an interest in gardening "do you grow African Violets?" gives me a deer-in-the-headlights" look and tells me they've heard they are hard to grow. So then they leave with one to experiment with and I have one less to take care of. I suspect most everyone on this forum has the same issue.

Anyway, thanks again for the advise and encouragement will try to post as much as I can picture wise and I sure appreciate all of your posts too. I live in an African violet desert. Hopefully there will be a show someday within 500 miles that I can attend and see what reals Avis are supposed to look like!

Ken

Ken - and where is your AV Desert? May be there are some AV lovers who are not "unionized" yet?

S E Idaho

Ouch!

Are you saying there's no hope Irina? I'll have to up my search over a 1000 mile radius. Long drive to club meetings though.

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!!! Yep looks like Optimara Michele to me also!!!! Hey Irina!!!! Does he sound like someone else you know??? YEP! ME!!!!! Ha ha ha,,,,more violet babies than room to put them!!!!!!!!! Stick with the forum! We are here to help and have FUN!!!!! Rosie

Rosie -

you love them all!

Yes I do Irina! never met one I didn't want to have a leaf or start from!

Ken, about that "no hope" thing. I have always been on my own when it came to "plant friends". I mean, in person plant friends, let alone people who liked violets/gesneriads!!!!! But I just keep plodding along,,,adding to my Wish List (oh just ask Irina about THAT! lol) and looking for groups online like this one. And guess what happened???? I met someone in this very group who is 7 hours away from me and she enlightened me about an african violet plant sale/show that is held twice a year a mere 1/2 hour from me!!!! OMG!!!!!! So she and I met at the sale, had a wonderful time and became friends! I mean I went up to the top of Michigan and visited her!!!!!!!! How great was that!

Now, maybe this group won't do that for you but the point of the story is,,,,you never know who you will "talk" with, or meet or something! And I have people I trade with. Life is good.

Just keep up the good work and things will fall into place for you eventually. In the meantime,,,,,stick with us! We welcome everyone!!!! Good luck!!! Rosie

PS. Thanks for the kind words about my posts!

Maybe I will just have to cultivate some av friends locally. One friend seems to take one of every extra I have for herself and her mom. The problem is all of their violets now are the same as mine! I've always been a lone gardener anyway - my opportunity to de-stress. I like this format to pursue the hobby. Everyone has great ideas!

Ken, maybe you could gently suggest where she can find violets. "Hey so & so, have you seen the violets at Lowes (Walmart or anywhere in your area they sell violets)? I try to get there sometimes but let me know if you buy anything different! Then maybe I could get a leaf from you!" Maybe a subtle hint is in order here. OR direct her to one of the less expensive mail order places! I think you mentioned a sale at bloomlovers? Offer to make a joint order, you both get different leaves and then trade! Ah,,,there is always a way. You will figure it out! But maybe she is not to that point yet. Well,,,,,we'll work on it! Rosie

Aegis, meant to say your violet is beautiful!!!!!!

And Ken, I looooove that bi-color one! As soon as I find my Wish List it is going on it!!!!! Name or no name!!!!! Rosie

Thanks Rosie! I like your idea about going in together on an order. I think she might like that idea too! The bicolor is Robs Boolaroo. I bought it during my 2nd av life. It's a nice little trailer.

Glad you liked the suggestion. Hope something works out for the two (or three?) of you. Thanks for the name. Lovely and on my List!!!!! Rosie

Rosie, I've noticed your mentioning your wish list in your posts. Do those wishes ever come true or do you enjoy maintaining the list only? It sounds like it has taken on a life of its own. My memory is not great but if you remind me in the spring I'd be glad to send you a couple of leaves if you would like.

Oh Ken, bless your kind heart! Maybe in the spring we can trade! As far as my list,,,,,,you have to know something about me. I never met a violet I didn't fall in love with. I put every one on my wish list.

Are my wishes granted??? Sometimes I get lucky in a trade or a gift, so the answer is yes. Around here there is only Lowe's and Meijer. Both sources for Optimara only.

In fact I really, really, really wanted Opt. MySensation. and I DID find not one, but 2 about 3 weeks apart at Lowe's!!!!!! Walmart, at least in our area rarely carries any violets, so they are not a dependable source. I don't even know where they would get their violets from.

And I have a wonderful friend that shares with me when we get together. So life is good and yes my list is just that. A Wish List! And yes it has taken on a life of its own!!!!!!!!! It is fun!!! Rosie

I started mine last night and it's already scary. You inspire us all Rosie! We have the same issue here. We go to SLC a couple of times a year and can find some in the greenhouses there, but they are never named either. It is risky trying to id them when there are so many that resemble each other. Easier to just buy leaves and propagate them - safer too. I think Irina has impressed that into my head, which isn't an easy thing to do. Ken

I know. I won't let the lack of a tag stop me from buying a violet. Again,,,,Visually appealing and it is mine!!!!! Or at least on my wish list! haha.

But I think too many hybridizers register and put for sale far to many violets that are way to similar or the same to what is on the market.

Then there is always THAT company that won't (please don't give me their lame excuses again anyone!) put a name tag in for ID. I don't care if they sell from their greenhouses or ship out to our retail stores, these plants from this company are not NOIDS and you shouldn't have to buy from mail order, pay inflated prices just to get a darn name tag that should have been put in every plant to begin with. Every plant I buy at any store has an ID tag in it. Fern, begonia, coral bells, colorado blue spruce, indoor or outdoor plant. EVERY one has an ID tag and no excuses about not providing one.

DARN! There I go on that rant, beating that already so dead horse. Sorry folks! Rosie

The More You Complain, The Longer God Lets You LIve...

Then I will live forever Irina! Rosie

PS. I am going to try doubley (is that a word?) hard from now on not to let anything '"trigger" a response about them.

I love the idea of you living forever!!!

Yeah because you won't be around to hear me rant! lololololol Be careful what you wish for. I don't really want to do that so I guess I better shape up! Rosie