Presentation DONE!

There were a few technical glitches (the projector didn't work, so we only had someones netbook to hand around for people to see) But all in all, I think it went ok. Here's what it looked like from where I stood.

Time To Judge!

I'm clerking, whoohoo!

Ahhhhhhh It's Real!

We're doing this presentation tomorrow... I'm skuuuuuuuurd!

Things are about to get VERY BUSY!

We've got three major shows coming up!

This coming weekend (Oct 20th-22nd) is the NYSAVS's annual convention which is in Rochester, NY this year. In addition to our usual photographing of the show plants, Lenny and I are also giving a presentation on photography. I am SO NERVOUS! Hardly any time to prepare (for some reason I thought it was NEXT weekend) not to mention, speaking in front of SO MANY PEOPLE! Yikes.

Then a couple weeks later (November 5th & 6th), we have the Tri-State African Violet Council's annual show in Morristown, NJ, where we will also be doing our usual photography duties.

A bit less than a week after that (November 10-12th), we're supposed to be doing the photography again for the MAAVS' annual convention which is in Baltimore, MD this year. Problem? We still don't have a place to stay! If anyone is in the Baltimore area and could put us up (or, put up with us?) for a coupla nights, PLEASE let me know! Nevermind, they decided to have someone else photograph this year. :-(

Oh, and a side note: All these great shows and I have NO plants to enter at any of these shows. Insert frowny face. But at least I can take pics of all the beauties that others bring! 

2010's MAAVS/NYSAVS Best In Show Winner - Rob's Pink Buttercups - Exhibited by Lorna Russell

Bay State African Violet Society Annual Luncheon

Today was a fun day in Bedford, Massachusetts! The Bay State AVS had their big fall luncheon, with special guest speakers all the way from Ohio--Mel Grice and Pat Hancock. Yes, THE Buckeye Beauty herself, Pat Hancock.

In addition to the fun of seeing lots of violet-friends, there was  also an impressive sales table, a buffet lunch, a great talk by Pat and Mel, then a lively raffle to end the day.

I surveyed the raffle table early and decided I really wanted this old book from 1951, 'All About African Violets' by Montague Free. I just love old books with ancient/outdated advice. And the best part is the illustration showing the "varieties"of blossoms.. Purple or pink? That's about the extent of it!

Well, during the raffle they kept calling number after number but none of mine. Joyce (who was sitting next to me, the vice president of our Windsor AVS) kept winning over and over. Imagine my delight when she came back after her 3rd win and handed me the book as a gift!
Her generosity gave her more good luck, she went on to win 3 more times.

Finally one of my numbers was called and the pickings were slim so I chose a small book about gesneriads. Or, "A Weed Book" as I call it.

All in all a very fun day.

Only one week left to the New York State AVS convention in Rochester, NY. Lenny and I will be photographing the show plants AND giving a presentation on photography... 
(...pretty nervous about that last bit.)

Frelinghuysen Arboretum Gesneriad Society Show

Today Lenny and I took a drive up to Morristown, NJ to check out the Frelinghuysen Arboretum Gesneriad Society's annual fall show. It was a small show, but a good one!

And  the best part was that it helped put me back in the mood for plants now that cool temps and show season is upon us... That is a good thing since I felt a bit burned out on plants (and everything) over the summer. I hardly even updated this blog, and I'm sorry about that. What can I say, I hate summer so much that it makes me hate everything else too!

Bring on the cool weather and all the African violet shows and regional conventions that come with it and I am a happy girl again!