I'm with Heather! :P I dunno, would your friend mind giving you back a leaf? It's definitely a keeper.

Yes, I told her about the leaf last night. Except it might have come across the wrong way...when I asked her to start pinching leaves if it starts dying on her. Well, hmm, her lighting conditions are poor, which would definitely be a fatal factor in the plant's premature demise, lol. I don't intend to micromanage a gift so she's on her own with it.

I love this one. I just acquired recently. It's Optimara MyLove.

So glad I can put a name to that face. Thanks Julie.

Latest scoop on how MyLove is faring...

Friend is happy because it continues to bloom for her. She said 3 leaves have turned black and "I just take them off, right?"

Um, yes.

Just continue to take the leaves off.

Hmm...

She will give it back to me after its done blooming so I "could make it bloom again."

Um...sure.

She thinks I am good.

Who am I to disspell a well known truth.

My challenge then, should I choose to accept it, will be to nurse it back to health from a root ball.

As you know, I may be new at this stuff but...I am that good.

She is happy and that's what counts.

I never did get a leaf but I’ve had my eyes open for another. Picked this up at Lowe’s today. It looks a little different than the other one—anyone think it might be myLove?

Also, I don’t know what to make of this. Looks like several crowns on it. If it’s as big a mess as I think it is I don’t think I’ll keep it!

Enjoy the bloom- and when it is done - unpot it and sort it out.

And then your "poor light conditions" friend will bring you back the first one. And you will end with 3 MyLoves.

This one has a pansy bloom so wouldn't be MyLove which is a star. Same pretty color, however!

Umm start more than one leaf, that way you can keep at least one.

Did I mention, db, that my other affliction is violet giftitis -- giving away my Optimaras is a bad habit of mine. The other day I gave away all my practice leaves and babies to a friend -- I thought they were all just noids so I didn't bother labeling any, so now she's going to have a load of surprise violets when they bloom. The thing is, I'm starting to learn that some of these Optimaras are actually scarce and very desirable to collectors.

And yesterday's Lowe's haul was actually to replace 2 of my 3 Chicos I'm gifting to some people. They've grown into some of my most prized plants but room is at a premium here (now that I'm starting to collect some named varieties). And do I really need 3 of them?! Besides, I get a lot of joy out of sharing some of my plants with others. I started to tell myself that Optimaras are a dime a dozen, (okay, they're actually $45.48 a dozen but they're still meant to give away, lol.) My hairdresser and the Macy's saleswomen I met are next on my list. This giftitis is getting outta hand, plus it's kinda itchy.

So you are all right, I need to start collecting more leaves. Some of these Optimaras are quite special.

I went to Lowes today..nothing special. Darn it.