Beautiful plants!

Anne,. I didn't even think about the background for the species picture but I see what you mean. Thanks for pointing it out!

Very nice ... gives me another perspective on the MyLove ... the most vibrant specimen I've seen ...

Thanks, Aegis! I purchased this one from Optimara's sale's table at the Albuquerque convention. They brought a number of extra nice varieties.

They're all so pretty and healthy! You know, I think I saw the My Love at Lowe's last week. I think I'm going back for it today--that and the Chagall I saw. Your picture has inspired me. :o)

Love the Cranberry Crush and how the green container perfectly complements the color of the leaves and flowers. Is that just a pot cover or a self-watering pot? I like it.

Cranberry Crush is in a self-watering pot called a Maxi-Well. They are made by Optimara and can be seen on their website. They work well with 4" pots. The reservoir isn't all that large. . . still it holds enough water to last about a week under normal circumstances.

Terri

Beautiful!!! Thanks so much for sharing!

Terri I would love to trade some leaves with you if your interested!

Stamik, I am open to trading in the fall. I understand there may be a group effort directed towards trading so will see how that works in.

Hi Terri! Lovely plants! I think my favorite is the white chimera Emerald City! Well,,,, and Ann. Include the species for sure!!!! Hold on,,,, and Cranberry Crush and Ode to Beauty! Darn, Better just include ALL of them!!! I can't choose!

Yes, there is a group of us gearing up to trade our brains out in the fall! Come join the fun!!!!

Stamik do you think you should make a separate thread for the trade so we can find it? lol

Terri your pix of the container holding Edge of Darkness reminded me of something!! I was at the Curbside store (lol) and got a whole panel of that plastic grid!!!!! I think it is about 3ft X 4ft !!!!! A nice big large panel! All I have to do is cut it to shape. As soon as I figure out what I want to use it for! Rosie

Yes I will!

Rosie, You probably know that many growers use those plastic grids for community wick watering. I don't however as I use individual containers. Mine are used mainly to keep my unwicked plants above the water I add for humidity.

Well, yeah,,,,,I know the uses,,,,but the Curbside store sometimes has useful things that just need to come home with me.

Now about that grid. I clean porcelain dolls and ceramic pieces generating a LOT of dust. I have one grid for the porcelain but needed one for ceramic. When you clean over the grid and have a generously water soaked towel in the pan holding the grid, the water/towel attracts the fine dust and you don't breathe in as much. (yes I also use a mask.) AND with the grid you can set your piece on top of it and the water doesn't touch it!!!!

I didn't think I would use it much for violets but the jury is still out on that one. You never know when you will switch methods!!!! I am still pondering a few more uses for it! But it IS a useful thing!!!! Rosie

I also bought Opti. MyLove at Lowe's over a week ago. It has big bloom and the purple/eggplant eye is big, very striking. It's a keeper. I plan to get rid of MyDream I bought a few weeks ago. It's blue/purple eye is small, but the bloom is also very big.

I think that's what I bought last week. It was the only one like it in the fresh batch Lowes had just got in. Almost didn't buy it because there were so few flowers and no bloom stalks! But it was so striking it compared to the others that it was impossible to resist!

Wow, my hat is off to anyone who can find violets at Lowe's in good condition. Yes I have signed up several times to be notified when they come into my Lowe's but I think Holtkamp has read my rants here about no labels and they don't send the info. That is ok. I will live vicariously through you guys! Especially Julie!!! She is on a mission!!!!! My hat is off to her!!!!

Just one question Julie,,,,what are you going to do when there are no more to get from Optimara??? I mean when you have ALL of the varieties that you like, I mean, there have to be a few you don't care for right????? Rosie

PS Beautiful av Julie!!!

I adore the ones I've found at Lowe's and Home Depot! The first picture is what I'm 98% sure is a Michele from Lowe's (got it in July), and the second one is a verrrry old/blurry picture of a Dali I got at Home Depot over a year ago. My care habits weren't that great in those days, so when the Dali blooms again, I'll be sure to share. :o)