Ken -

thank you for the poem. First Ode in in my life... Need to buy a bottle of Champagne!

Come to Denver - and relieve me of 160 leaves and starters... please. I have 2 shelves of leaf pots to divide - 8 trays - and I need to do it right now.

There plenty of pink and green AVs... you bring one NOID from the store - you will be investing time working with it, it can bring you a bag full of pests and diseases, they can spread... and finally ... 6 months later you get it all cleaned up and blooming - and it is still a NOID, and it takes real estate from your named plants and you will forever have nightmares asking the plant what is the name - and it won't answer...

For me - 2 NO-NOs - it will take space - and it can be infested. My very good friend from a club keeps saying - I take everything - like a cemetery. First - it just means that she loses plants often , otherwise she wouldn't have space to drag them in - and the second - she is forever plagued with pests. And it is contributing to her plants loss....

i.

You've convinced me Irina. Can't wait for all of my little plants to grow so that I can cull them. There is quite a variation of some plants from the same leaf so it is fascinating. I need to set up another shelf on my stand to accommodate these babies and when they grow will have to set up another stand but we will take it a step at a time. Turned 200 3 oz cups into pots last night with my soldering iron.

Yeah ... you eventually get to the point that you tire of fighting pests all of the time. After getting a few iffy plants from a couple of well-known vendors, I'm to the point of only bringing in leaves to my collection.

Hear, hear! Cheaper and much less hassle.

Ken- you are not obliged to keep every single baby. Keep only the best and strongest ones. And if you have in your description - red backed leaves - do not grow the pale leaved ones. It will be a sport...

:) Irina you are so very much appreciated :)

Just show me the pics of your plants... that do better and better...we all learn as long as we breath!

I totally understand about keeping the best. It's hard at first but the relief afterwards is sure nice. We will see what happens. Still have a little space!

You start with a healthy strong baby - you get a healthy blooming plant in no time... you start with a crooked weak one - and it will take twice more time and it will probably never be as good. And life is short - and space is limited. Second - there are always varieties that never do good for you. Something in your home conditions just doesn't not fit them. Let them go no matter how well they look on the photos. Some people say - Buckeyes do not grow well for them... for me - Ma's plants just do not grow the way how they should. But - out of so many of them... I want to keep the ones that are happy bloomers and good growers in my home. So - there is always something new to try!

Loved that little Ode to Irina! Boy the people on this forum are talented! And not only with violets !!!!! You are appreciated Irina and Ken and AnneC and Aegis and oh my all of the people that keep posting, showing pix and giving advice!!!! Rosie

Thanks Rosie. You get added to the list too! We sure do learn a lot from each other. Someday I will be smart just like all of you! I added two more lights to my shelf set up so now I have three of the four filled! My pill-free fleece/eggcrate light diffusers and 10x20 seed trays are working pretty good as a capillary set up. I worried that some of the babies were wilting then found out that the reservoirs ran out of water after two weeks. Talk about labor saving! I'll have to get more plants just to have something to do! My "the alps" is budding again after my peduncle experiment. Will post a picture when it's in full bloom again. Sure do like it! Ken

Wonderful and thanks!!!!! Sounds like you are really enjoying your violet hobby!!! Or is it a full time occupation????? hahahahaha Yep waiting for the pix! Rosie

Wish it was a full time occupation but not for now, will definitely show you when it blooms!

Great!!!! Rosie

Want to add something to this Ode to Irina. She is a very knowledgeable AV grower and I appreciate and value every her suggestion. Do you guys know she is an official AV Show Judge? Irina, I am correct, right? Over all - she is a positive person regardless what's going on in life and always support friends. Love you! P.S. Didn't plan to show my feelings and thoughts to the public, but under this circumstances - just did. Happy Holidays All! Polina.

Polina,

You must not keep it. I will send you my address and you can send it to me. It's beautiful! I like the variegation a lot. It sets off the flowers nicely. I have my originals, which are semi-identified noids, which I consider to therefore be official noids that I have a sentimental attachment to. I will keep them but not add more to my collection. At least there are plenty named varieties so that we won't be at want for more noids to fill out our collections. I respect a lot that Irina says - she seems to have a grip on reality.

That's a beautiful plant, Polina.

And beautifully grown ...

Ohhhh Polina what a beautiful violet! You MUST keep it noid or not! Now,,,,,maybe if you have to trim off a leaf when weather is good for shipping??? lol Rosie

It is a very nicely grown plant! And knowing that Miss Polina just survived a move - with all her plants boxed up and loaded to the moving truck - it is truly amazing. Optimara - whatever it is - at its best - thrives despite the movers!