African Violets Are
My Inheritance
by
Thelma Foster
November 1994
This is a memoir
written for my
children and heirs
|
|
How my mother would smile, if she knew of my African violet activities!
She always enjoyed flowers, and grew them in flower beds and pots everywhere possible. I remember huge gladioluses, delphiniums, dahlias, and zinnias. She and her friends exchanged dahlia roots and gladiolus tubers just as my friends and I exchange and share violet leaves and plants.
In 1970 Mom and Dad moved to Golden West Manor, in Boulder. Their corner apartment had a southern and western exposure, chosen specifically because my mother always felt cold. Even with this warm exposure, she kept the thermostat set at 80 to 82 degrees, making it very uncomfortable for others. But oh how the African violets loved it! They were the envy of her friends and neighbors. She gave them leaves. Time after time, she asked me to take baby plants. I always declined, citing lack of knowledge and a well-lighted place for them.
In 1978 she and I went to a local flower shop to choose a Mother's Day gift for her. She chose a very sad African violet, because she felt it needed her help, and passed up the healthier, happier ones. (In 1994 I still have that plant, Ballet Lisa -- an unusually fine bright pink variety.) When she died in 1983, I inherited the violets. I felt inundated by violets, and gave away many, but kept Ballet Lisa -- which I frequently propagate and share with other growers, who are interested in keeping the exceptionally good, older varieties going.
The plant and I struggled, until, in 1984, at the urging of my daughter Susan, I went to the African violet annual show and sale, at the Botanic Gardens in Denver. From then on, I was hooked on African violets.
One of Wrangler's red varieties caught my eye. The name of the grower, Yvonne Hodgson, was on the entry tag. I called her to ask if she had any starter plants of that variety. She said she had none, but that she had just removed a row of leaves and thrown them in the wastebasket. I was to come by if I'd like to have them. Thus began a wonderful, long-lasting friendship with one of the outstanding growers in the Rocky Mountain region. She became my mentor, as I took my first baby steps in this world of successfully growing African violets. I blame Yvonne for everything! She sent me notes telling me she had baby plants for me. One time, when I stopped by to pick up the plants, there were 14 different varieties!
It was decision time. There wasn't a place in the entire house to accommodate them! I had to get into this seriously or get out completely. It was December. I decided to buy myself a Christmas present, and bought a 4 foot, 3 level, lighted plant stand. You may conclude, that now I was seriously committed. There probably wasn't any other choice. My husband, Ted, loved plants -- to the point where, if I threw one into the trash, he'd bring it back in, sadly saying, "But it's green, it's green!" I soon learned that plants needed to be disposed of more surreptitiously.
There was lots to learn. I joined a violet club in Golden and had my first success at a club show, with Nortex Snowkist Haven, which took a blue ribbon and was judged Best in Show. I met many more successful growers. For a number of years, I volunteered as a judges' clerk at the annual show and sale, sponsored by the Rocky Mountain African Violet Council, at the Denver Botanic Gardens. For sincere beginners, this is an excellent learning experience. You learn how to prejudge your plants at home, before packing them, so that your efforts go into transporting only blue ribbon prospects.
This year, over Memorial Day weekend, we hosted the national convention of the African Violet Society of America, at the Denver Marriott City Center. It's always fun to see the new introductions, and meet others from all over the world, who share your interest. However, five months later, another time for decision! It's a common problem we all share -- having too many plants for the growing space we have. You see, at the convention, I acquired many leaves of new introductions. Now I have many clumps of baby plants. Should I take just one or two from each clump, and throw away the rest? Or should I plant each one in its own little pot? This would yield over 100 potted baby plants! Those clumps of beautiful, healthy, baby plants are waiting for my decision.
And so, eleven years after my mother's death, and inheriting her plants, I'm now accepted as an accomplished grower. I'm president of the local African violet club, and am teaching a class of seniors how to grow blue ribbon African violets. Yes, I know my mother would be amused! |
