I am from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. I have received plants from Robs several times, but I make arrangements for them to deliver the box to a convention so cost is less. My experience with getting them through the mail is that plants are in excellent condition, but total cost for me was out of sight. Read their words on the international/Canada section at their site. I think my charges were something like $50 inspection, $60 for postage and another $60 for something I couldn't figure out. I cancelled that order. Find out if they can deliver them to a convention somewhere near you and save on the cost. Nancy

Xmahini, You live in the East Bay? So do I! See below, I will gladly give you lots of violets if we happen to live within BART-able distance!!! I am winding down my collection after many years of experimenting with various colors and varieties. I know what I like and what does best with my care. By the way, the older posts are dated from 2012, so I take it that you piggy-backed onto an older discussion? Those violets you got at your local nursery are totally typical for a California-raised violet!!! We Californians are absolutely spoiled rotten, there is no comparison to what you buy in a commercial nursery that is intended as a decoration for non-collectors to what you get as a baby start from an east coast nursery! If you want to tell me where you live, send me an email, or a private message, then if we are nearby, I will gladly divest myself of some large violets. I am suddenly "over" the addiction and am eager to donate some of my violets. I disconnected my private message, but I will try to connect it again. Or I will try to send you a PM. As Rosie said, when you order from a mail order company, you get small violets so you can grow them out in your own environment. Your husband and yourself and your violets will be much happier and so will your pocketbook if you buy from Lyndon Lyon's Greenhouse in upstate New York. You can find them on the internet. They are the second oldest violet hybridizer, grower and retail outlet on the planet, second only to Optimara. They will suggest violets to you, they send large sizes in bloom, they answer correspondence, their prices are reasonable. They set the standards that few others measure up to. They have great potting mix for sale. Their best-growing violets are the older standards in the blue-purple ranges. Another favorite of mine is FancyBloomers in New Jersey, but she does not have as wide a selection. Her own hybrids are the best. Large, easy growing. I have been growing and ordering for years, those are my go-to's. If you want truly foolproof and large, order some of the Russians. Now, I live in a part of the country that is very compatible with Lyon's types of plants and I grow in natural light, for the most part, without strict temperature controls. Other people who live in other areas have better success with other growers. So you might find some "heated" arguments on this forum. But for starting a collection and getting more bang for your buck, the next time, give Lyon's a try. If they don't ship at specific times of the year, there is valid reason, they seem to have a good grasp of what will produce the happiest plants. Others on this forum have recommendations of who to buy from on EBay. I have no experience buying violets on EBay so I can't comment. I have not read all of the comments, but most likely Aegis advised you, do not use tap water or water with a filter. It must be spring water. I get the local brand at Safeway, I think it is called Arrowhead. Also, there are several fun violet clubs in the area. I can hook you up, girl! Well, I scanned the above posts, and must comment that Linda, Irina and Aegis are very best and most patient violet experts on the web, especially Linda and Irina, with professional experience and Aegis with much related horticultural experience. They very generously got many of us started here and still come by to give advice! Joanne

I have posted pics of all the plants today. Hope you all enjoy

Ann, If you like a more compact look, then you should just choose species that stay compact and aren't viners. Looking at VB's website, I'd suggest these... diptera - looks nice in a hanging pot heushkeliana - a very small-leaved one that's adorable lacunosa - you can find this in a very big potful at the box strores... polyneura - leaves grow very close together wayetti - a very tidy grower I'd stay away from the carnosas and pubicalyx and australis ssp. tenuipes. They take quite a bit of work to keep shaped up, though I think they're all worth the trouble. Here's my biggest pubicalyx 'Pink Silver', which is 3' x 3'... Others to avoid are kerrii and obovata. I find them both impossible to train because they have very stiff, thick vines and want to go everywhere. My kerrii is getting seriously whacked back this spring to try to regain control of it... As for rooting, this time of year, they all root pretty easily just putting them in potting mix. Keep them in a shady place until you see signs of new growth, then you can move them to a brighter spot. Denise in Omaha