Hello, I self resolved my question thanks to the information on Facebook.

Here is an excerpt:

Jim Eyerdom was the third generation of the Granger Gardens family business. In 1926, grandparents Hugh and Grace Eyerdom moved from Cleveland, Ohio, in 1938 to Granger, Ohio. They started a produce business named Granger Gardens, which would later become known worldwide for their African violets.
Evolving from growing field-grown produce to greenhouse tomatoes to African violets, Jim's father and mother, Dale and Grace Ann, joined the business. In the 50s and 60s, Granger Gardens became one of the country's most renowned producers of African violets. Jim Eyerdom graduated high school in 1973 and joined the family business, becoming the owner/operator of Granger Gardens. Due to changing market conditions, Granger Gardens ceased operations in 1996.

I also found an interview with Mr. Jim Eyerdom conducted by Mr. Don Geiss:

Don Geiss Eyerdom Interview - YouTube

I am very intrigued by the history of Granger Gardens (plural!), and am very interested in learning about great hybridizers of African violets.

Lastly, this is Garnet Elf I grew. I've learned that this variety was also born at Granger Gardens!

Granger Gardens was a premier African violet nursery located in the state of Ohio and operated by three generations of the Eyerdom family. They were hybridizers of many popular and important AV varieties. They began operation in the 1950's and eventually closed in 1996. Many of their plants carry the Granger Garden or just Grangers prefix. Over 500 varieties are credited to them.

I am not familiar with Rosemary but perhaps someone who has First Class will chime in as that program lists hybridizers and their varieties.

Terri

Thank you for the information, terrilou.

Over 500 varieties...so many! I even may have one or two of them without knowing they are Granger Gardens'.

I'd love to know about Rosemary and its hybridizer as well.

I've learned that First Class is a charged database. Seems interesting, but is a bit expensive...

Greetings, try this ebook by Eyerdom:

https://archive.org/details/CAT31386281/page/n1/mode/2up

Also, this thread on Houzz:

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/1676139/search-for-vintage-eyerdom-granger-gardens-varieties

Hello, alabamaav.

Thank you very much for great information! I am thrilled to see the ebook you kindly mentioned. Such a precious book! It is amazing that a book written over 70 years ago in the U.S. is so easily accessible.

Also thanks for the thread, which is very interesting as well!

Among the varieties of Granger Gardens, I have Heart's Desire and Garnet Elf, but I'll try to look for other Granger AVs I may have without knowing their origin.

Thank you!

Hello, HU-698522674! Thank you very much for sharing your great experience with Granger's!

I am very moved to learn of the details of Granger Gardens from someone like you, who directly knew the Eyerdoms family. This is so amazing. I really appreciate it.

Of the varieties you kindly listed above, I found some are sometimes sold on the online auction site in Japan, including Granger's Heart's Desire, which I also manage to keep, Granger's Serenity, Valencia, Desert Dawn, and Kilauea, which I killed soon after buying. As for Firebird, many bids are made whenever it is listed, because Japanese growers seem to like this type of flower. Sea Foam and Garnet Elf, which I also learned were Granger's, are also sold on the auction site, though not often. As you kindly suggested, I would like to check on the AVSA website for other Granger's varieties.

Thank you so much!

I never heard of a Granger plant called Rosemary. I have had Serenity, Valencia and Desert Dawn. But I no longer have them. Had a house fire back in 1990 that killed most of my collection. You should be able to go on line to the African Violet Society of America and check their registered variety list. Also I think their photo gallery lists the hybridizers.

Am having a Garnet Elf delivered by the end of the week that I bid on ebay and won. Am trying to purchase some of my old favorites. Would love to get Granger's Heart's Desire, Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, and Desert Dawn. The last three are chimeras. I hope this helps. I will check for you do see what I can find out about Rosemary or Granger's Rosemary.

Hi, this will be my last post in this thread.

With respect to my original question, specifically, about "Rosemary," I've learned that I was totally wrong.

Now I know that there exists a variety named "Granger's Rosemarie"!

I had thought that "Granger's Rosemary" was a wrong name (so spelled in someone's post) and that the variety should be just called "Rosemary". But it turned out that they are just two different vatieties, "Rosemary" hibridized by Ernest Fisher, and "Granger's Rosemarie." The spelling "Rosemarie" was tricky.

I'm afraid I may be weird about sticking to this "Rosemary" thing.

Anyway, thank you all for responding to my question!

My Granger's Rosemarie (perhaps!)

I would love to be able to purchase a Granger's Heart's Desire plant or leaf and Valencia and Desert Dawn plants. Granger's Heart's Desire was my first Grangers plant and I got both the other 2 which are chimeras when they first sold them. Have not had them for years. Do you know how they can be purchased from Japan to the U.S.? Thanks,

I missed one of your posts, and I am so sorry that you had a house fire and lost your collection. You must have had a hard time back then...

As for your question, I sometimes see a Granger's Heart's Desire plant sold on the auction site here, but Valencia and Desert Dawn plants are sold much less often.

Besides, as far as I know, no one in Japan sells African violets to growers overseas, so I think it is very difficult to purchase your wanted Granger's varieties from Japan...sorry.

However, as for Granger's Heart's Desire, I know one online store sells it. The store is located in Kazakhstan and sends AV leaves and seedlings internationally. I actually purchased some leaves from this store in May this year, and the packaging was so excellent that no single leaf was damaged despite a 12-day trip to Japan. I would strongly recommend this store, though Valencia and Desert Dawn may not be available.

You can visit the store at:

Фиалки в Казахстане (violet-life.com)

(You can translate the language into English using Google Translate.)

I hope you can get back those Granger's varieties to your collection. Thank you once again for sharing your valuable knowlege and experience.

Granger Gardens Violet source, hope this helps:
 
Bloomlovers in Canada. (currently available)
Blue Lace #8431
Chanticleer # 1386
Granger's Cameo Queen #2863
Raspberry Halo #7634
---------------Listed, but out of Stock
Arcturus
Garnet Elf
Granger's Carnival #4298
Granger's Elektra #8029
Granger Gardens Ebb Tide #1017
Granger's Sylvan Blue #2875
Granger's Wonderland #3419
Red Electra
Firehouse
Purple Crest
Pink Amiss
Kazumi #7628
Raspberry Rose #6450
My Fair Lady #3782
Coralette #6442
Lavender Tempest #2709
Firebird 1st strain #2018
Lavender Lace #5822
Misty Cloud #7288
Montgomery Silver Frost #7051
White Lace
White Madonna # 670

Thank you

Thank you, alabamaav. I am amazed at so many Granger's varieties being sold at Bloomlovers!

(I loved watching her YouTube videos.)

Just a few days ago, a blooming plant of Granger's Valencia was listed for auction online here, and it was finally bought for approximately 45 dollars after ten bids came in.

Although I didn't join the auction, I was convinced that Granger's varieties are still very popular even here in Japan.

Granger Gardens didn't have a Rosemary, but later they had plants listed as Granger's. Here is the one I found...similar to the Fisher variety...

Granger's Rosemarie (4304) 02/21/1981 (Eyerdom) Single red-orchid/white frilled edge. Ruffled. Standard