Fall 2015 African Violet Show Season!

YAY it's that time of year! Cooler weather, pumpkin spice flavored everything, and FALL AFRICAN VIOLET SHOWS!

To find shows near (or near-ish) you in the USA (and even Canada, eh?) be sure to check out the "Events" page on the AVSA website, OR look for the show postings on the AVSA Facebook page! I try and get them done on the facebook page (with my awesome assistant Peggy Barber) a couple weeks ahead of time, so we can give people time to plan.

Sadly because of my new work schedule and an upcoming surgery, I don't see myself being able to attend any shows this year. But I'll just have to hope I can next year and enjoy it doubly, to make up for this wasted year!

Don't be too freaked out/socially anxious to get yourself out to one if you can--Even if you're a total n00b and aren't entering any plants. Shows are a great place to network and geek out with other African violet growers, buy plants & supplies, learn stuff, and of course be dazzled by the eye-candy of the perfectly grown show displays. Seriously, it's mind-blowing.

Mac's Starry Sky - Hybridized and exhibited by George McDonald at CJAVS 2009
If you think this is nice, your eyes might actually melt when you go to a show in-person.

Oh Yeah, LOOT!

I forgot to post about what I got today at the Bay State AVS luncheon!
I accidentally bought 4 plants--EWPZ!
Blue Dragon, Perfect Harmony, (what's up with me getting standards lately... Who in the world am I!?) Jolly Frills, and Ness' Crinkle Blue.

Aaaand in the raffle I wasn't winning anything, but my awesome friend Debbie Vallidis got one of her tickets called, which she handed to me! So I grabbed the totes adorbz itty-bitty tea set. Then lo and behold one of my tickets was called and Debbie didn't want anything, so I grabbed a vintage and outdated book to add to my vintage and outdated African violet book collection. They're always so funny!

2012 Tristate Show - CANCELED

The Tristate African Violet Council's annual show that was to take place this weekend in Morristown, NJ has been canceled. There's no electricity in that area, and it's not expected to be on until at least Monday. The show will not be rescheduled. Better luck next year...

Thanks a lot, Frankenstorm Sandy! >:-(

I had just settled on a couple of entries, too. And I was gonna get to photograph the show. Darn! Well, maybe my entries will hold out for another week and I can take them to MAAVS next weekend.

2011 Tristate Best In Show winner - Casey's Charm - Exhibited by David Tooker
Now David gets to wear his crown for another whole year? :-)

Last Night's WAVS Meeting/My First Strep

Last night was the Windsor African Violet Society monthly meeting--What a group! I couldn't even fit them all in the pic. And active! All the members actually participate, it was wonderful!

We talked about this past weekend's show/sale, I became an official member, and then Nancy announced that I get to do classifications for next year's show entries. A job! Hope I'll be good at it.

After we talked about the show, the meeting's program was a "Dawg Show", similar to what Central Jersey AVS did last month (I showed you pics) There were some pretty ugly plants, but Nancy took the prize for worst. Now why is it that every "worst" AV contest I go to is won by the person I'm staying with?

The meeting was held at my new friend Pam's house, she grows BEAUTIFUL streptocarpus (Streptocarpuses? Streptocarpi? Haha) Well anyhooz, I was admiring this tiny growing cultivar named Crystal Dawn, and she said, "Oh, you want one?" and handed me an extra she had from recently separating it!
So now I own my very first strep. And even tho it's what I call a "weed" I swear it's like this one was made just for me, because of its miniature size and pink on the flowers--Perfect! Thanks again, Pam!

I hope this doesn't mean I'm a full-fledged GESERINERD now!!

If you have an African violet society (club) near you, I highly suggest you go to a meeting. It's so awesome to be around other people who share the hobby!
(Sorry the pics are out of order on this post, I really hate this Blogger app on my droid, it doesn't let me do anything the way I want it grrrr!)

CJAVS "Awful Violet Show" 2011

Back on the 8th of March, the program for our Central Jersey African Violet Society meeting was an "Awful Violet Show". I was gonna post about it the very next day, but I ended up in the hospital getting my gallbladder out instead, and then I had a buncha complications that kept me there for a while, and then I was at Lenny's recovering for a while, and then we were busy going to Violet Gallery--But NOW I am finally back home and getting around to showing you the fun we had that night at our club meeting! (All images can be enlarged by clicking on 'em)

Here is our group of regulars! From left to right: Maria, Grace, Jan Murasko, David Tooker, George McDonald, Ruth-Ann, Anthony, Dean, and Lenny Winter. (I'm behind my phone taking the pic, of course)

Here is the show schedule. Jan Murasko did such an awesome job writing it! The parts with our names we had to read out loud, and it was hard for everyone to do without cracking up!

 Wow look at those sad plants! Asymmetrical variegated one, really sad trailer, a long necked palm tree leaning outta the cup, and a weird reaching thing in the back!

 More sad plants! Weird leaves, too much variegation, spent blossoms, rooted chirita leaves that never make babies, crazy "leggy" leafed plant, tiny plants with missing crowns, and something else I cut off in the pic--Oops!

 It's not all just for laughs and shocked looks, during "judging", we all learn what it is about the plant that would keep it from making a good show entry (or even just keep it from performing its best on our shelves) Here, Jan shows us a plant with a bit of a neck and some weird leaves that aren't laying properly which is ruining the symmetry. George McDonald looks horrified!

 Here, Lenny is showing us just how sad his trailer entry really is, and gives us some insight as to how it got that way. (Can you say, "Neglect"?)

 Here, Jan shows us a plant that has many spent (dead, brown) blossoms on it. Look at the restraint it's taking for her not to groom it--Oh wait, I think she is grooming it! It's hard for us African violet lovers not to groom.

And here we have the top show losers winners! They're hiding their faces, but I can tell you Lenny won bottom top honors with "Worst In Show", Ruth Ann won "Also Really Bad", and Jan won "Best Palm Tree"!

I love our club! I STRONGLY suggest finding out if there is an African violet club near you, and if there is go check them out! You can look up clubs by regions on this page of the AVSA site.