The leaves curling down would drive me *nuts*.

-Mo (WV, sunset zone 36 )

Frankly, I don't get Senk. His plants are unusual, but they're not pretty, so what's the point? Grace

I LOVE just about all Senk's hybrids!!! I like the unusual.
-Rebecca

I have to say, I agree with Grace. I don't get Senk. I'm not against the unusual but unusual and pretty aren't mutually exclusive so what's the point?
Linda

I think they are both pretty and unusual. I have ordered a leaf of the Beanstalk, I can't wait.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sky Violet

Springtime Wasp is certainly a beauty. Thanks for sharing.
Linda

It only went for $16+. Not too much. I guess for the "what's the point" question, I'd say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and so the point is to get a greater variety of stuff out there available to all african violet enthusiasts, and those that find them beautiful can grow them, while those who don't find them beautiful don't grow them, same as for any other plant. I think it's so cool Senk is doing all this stuff, cuz really, how many of those 15,000 other registered varieties of african violets are distinct?!

I love the variegation on Springtime Wasp. Does anyone know of other violets with variegation like that?

-Mo (WV)

A big "YUCK" from me. I'd obsess over whether the plant really had mites or something, with all of that odd growth. Again, yuck.

I don't like this particular Senk variety, but some of his other ones are cute. I agree w/ Mo on the curled down leaves; it too, drives me nuts.

-CG

Ooh, I like the variegated leaves and flower shape on that "Springtime Wasp", very cool! If I were better at growing AVs I'd totally have to have one!

minibot

Mr. Senk does different violets. I happen to love them...but it does notmean everybody has to love them with me.
I think they could be the gate for some new exciting hybrids...can you imagine Beanstalk with flowers of Music Box Dancer? There are so interesting possibilities for new violets...
I think that is nice option for all AV lovers, even for those who "yucks" some of present Senk's hybrids.
I appreciate work of each hybridizer, it is not so easy, it needs patience and love and devotion.
Alena

I guess one woman's 'unusual' is another woman's 'totally cool'. It also kinda gets me wondering what I could hybridize with them (if I only had the space!). You have to wonder, what would you get if you crossed Springtime Wasp with, say, Tiny Moon Goddess? Or Bad Girl with Voodoo Blue? Or... (chortle) My mind is easily boggled.

Korina

I haven't been an AVSA member for about 4 years, I assume this guy is new since then - anyone know if there's been any coverage on his hybrids? I have to wonder if he's working with something like colchicine to force such dramatic mutations.

Hi all,
Here is a link to an interview with David Senk:

http://groups.msn.com/AfricanVioletNotebook/davidsenk.msnw

He doesn't use any mutagens, just is very selective and has lots of goals for the unusual. It makes me wonder how many seedlings from other hybridizers get tossed because they aren't what the person was looking for or are "wierd and unruly"

I'm sure that most of you will find at least one of his hybrids interesting! As far as I know he is fairly "new" to hybridizing - but it takes a while to get a stable variety. And he's registered three hybrids just this year - the Alchemy's - which are solid yellow blooms.

-Rebecca

Alchemy Gold has just bloomed for me in the past few weeks. I would not call it a solid yellow. It is about 3/4 yellow. The yellow is pretty strong, though not as strong as the pictures. I'm hoping with its next flowering, it'll get darker and cover the whole blossom.

It's not really a question of whether or not the Senk varieties are 'pretty'. The very fact that they are so very different means there are lots of genes in each plant that other hybridizers can utilize and create other varieties.

In 1954, the double pink came out for the first time. Since then, hybridizers have gone all out on just that one color. Now Senk has, not different colors, but different forms, different leaves and just simply different varieties. His varities add so much to the gene pool that hybridizers can go for a long time just trying out different things.

Senks varities are new and exciting; they may not be what you would call beautiful but everything can add to new and different varities. He has gone all out to produce these very different plants. It has been a very long time since so different plants have come out. Tommie Lou was an example.

Nancy in Montreal

EXACTLY! Think of the possibilities...

Korina, much relieved

He's baaaack; two this time. Check out Fruit Fly! It still has *six days* to go!

Korina (really, I'm just envious of people who have money for eBay auctions)

Here is a link that might be useful: Senks