Aviolet, My ABB blooms well but does not look like a trailer. It looks like a multi-crowned mini. It is rather small. I also have a few micro's only one of which is single crown. As noted, some minis and semis do not sucker much, if at all. These are the ones that do well as show plants, (depending on bloom) as they do not need to be tortured into sticking to the standard. My ABB would never be entered into a show because it just does not want to conform. Personally, I think violets hybridized by commercial growers have a tendency to sucker more than those grown by home growers. One of the reasons plants sucker is stress. Commercial growers grow out their plants in a greenhouse: perfect conditions-light, water, humidity, etc. The plants are hot-house babies who have a difficult time adjusting to home conditions. They get stressed by less than ideal conditions and throw suckers. A hybridizer who is growing in her basement is going to produce plants that are tougher and used to less than ideal conditions. These conditions do not stress them into throwing out copious amounts of suckers. It would be an interesting experiment to see if this follows true. Suckering is also in a plant's genetics. How much of the trailer gene a plant carries and whether it is expressing itself will both have an influence. Linda

"It's an amazing little plant. So cute. How many, in all do you have? If you don't mind me asking..." About 100-150 or so I think... All minis & semis. Tho, the semis are kinda "too big" for my liking so I am trying to "phase them out" of my collection :-p "Would a petitition, if 'x' amount of signitures were submitted to the ASVA, convince them renaming a 3" or smaller Av, a micro?" I dunno... Maybe... Maybe not. I'm new (less than a year) to the AVSA so I don't wanna "cause waves" :-p "M3, your camera really picks up detail. It displays each 'hair' per leaf. I don't know if it's the camera or your computer. I like that." Thanks but as I said when I posted that pic, my friend Jana took that one, not me. Jana's good tho. And I sorta taught Jana a bit of what I know. Good cameras help. But still, thanks--I do think I am a good photographer... You can see my pics in the gallery area of this forum. "What's the brown pieces/medium in your soil? Is it bark?" It's just the potting medium that all of Rob's plants come in. I bought this from his table at Tulsa Convention... But it's the same if you mail order from him. Kinda heavy stuff, I repot whatever I get from him immediately into a light mix (about 1/2 peat, 1/2 perlite) so I can get 'em on wick watering. "I'm baffled by the number of people who travel around the US hunting down AV's. Did you go to OK to AV shop or other reasons and happen to come upon a show?" I don't "travel around the US hunting down AV's" HAHAHAhahahahaha I went to Tulsa, OK in May because that was where the 62nd annual AVSA National Convention was being held. It's A BIG DEAL.... Not just the sales room with most of the biggest African Violet suppliers that are in biz, but meeting up with violet lovers from all over the world, with seminars & classes... Oh, and a BIG show. 2009's National Convention will be in Reno, NV... so I'll be going there for it :-p Mostly I just liked it for the people. I only bought 2 plants (which was pathetic compared to most of the frenzied shoppers at Convention as you might imagine LOL)

Hi Judy, From Lyndon Lyon's, or LLG, I get consistently large plants, often in bloom, in 2 1/2 in square pots in a good potting mix that does not have to be changed for at least six months. They come with plastic stakes that have the plant name printed on them so I can move them when I repot. The plants grow rapidly and do not sucker. The company has excellent customer service and ships promptly. For me, it is worth it to pay slightly more to get consistently larger, premium quality plants. For all the trouble of ordering live plant material across country, I want to get the best I can for my money. They have good quality control and accurately label the plants. They are my first choice. I only go elsewhere if there is something I want that they don't carry. They also keep their web catalogue updated, so if they are out of stock, they won't list the item. So, no surprises and no substitutions. They usually have enough of a particular type to choose from. For example, they will offer five different reds or five different whites or more. Their own hybrids are exceptional, vigorous and strong. I primarily raise Lyon 's own hybrids. They also have a wide selection of many other hybridizers. They are a large enough company to be able to introduce new hybridizers. They first opened up the Russian market and offer a wide range. They seem to pick the best choices of other hybridizers, so if they offer a plant , I feel it has been preselected for good performance. If something is new in the plant world, chances are they developed it. They are consistent in what they offer, it is usually possible to find the same plant year after year, plus new ones. I like to be a loyal customer and give them my business. They have been at this for sixty years, I appreciate they are still in this business. I feel they are excellent, so why not do business with them? When I place an order with them, I already know what to expect, so I can safely order a dozen. But they will accept an order of any size. When I want to try out a new grower, I place a small order. Usually, about four. Joanne This post was edited by fortyseven on Tue, Aug 12, 14 at 10:56

They are extremely precious! I have many in my gardens - BUT only 5 or 6 actually bloom (and yes trout lily and dog-toothed violet are the same) The bulbs have to be planted at exactly the correct depth and have exactly the right light to bloom. If you disturb them (dig them up) it'll take a couple years before you'll know if you got them right in re-planting. If they only pop up one leaf consistently they'll never bloom. The only reason any of mine ever did (the person who planted them, none of them bloomed) was because I didn't realize where they were when I went in to plant some other things and they got shifted just a bit - they seemed to have liked where they wound up! Only spot they bloom! They are totally native here and I find them totally delightful. Be patient with them, but I think you'll never regret transplanting them into your garden. They prefer light in spring with heavy dappling in summer. All the ones in total shade are the ones that aren't blooming :) -Marie