LOVE IT!Your plant looks great!

Reds were my favorites until I realized it is still the classic deep blue/purple that shows best in my house.

All of them are so beautiful when they bloom!

I'm not familiar with this plant but wow is it lovely! It looks to be happy in your growing conditions.

I had that one and it did grow well. I am not too much for red anyway and always thought it was an off color. My husband liked it okay :) As I say, it is more what color of "not really red" do you want? The camera always fools with them so it is very hard to choose from photos.

Your violet is beautiful! I love red. I also love the leaves! I am probably one of the few people that pay attention to leaves. lol

I only have one red. It is a single flower and a very clear pretty color. Course it is from Lowe's,,,,,no name,,,,,,NOID! But I bought it anyway (along with 3 others!!! I am so bad!!!) because it was such a pretty red! Rosie

The only av leaves that draw my attention are the variegated types. The regular green ones, especially the matte, hairy types....I don't care much for them. This is why I forget about Miss Patience when they just vegetate in a state of cabbage, without bloom. :)

Rosie, you are not alone in paying attention to leaves. If a store violet catches my eye, I look at the bloom first & then give a longer look to the leaves. I find that most Optimaras have blah leaves but the other store bought types like Anthoflores can sport more interesting ones.

I tend to like ruffled or wavy leaves, prefer variegated ones but dark green types are lovely also. Girl foliage is welcome as are other types. When buying a plant off the internet, I want to see the whole plant, not just the flower. I've been known to buy an AV based on the leaves alone.

Terri

Terri!!! Me too! I will buy a violet with a girl leaf no matter what the flower looks like! And for some reason, Myakka Trail leaves are very beautiful to me. They are very dark with a red reverse that makes them look even darker and they look like definite perfect teardrop ovals! (yes I do like the single blue flower also.) But those leaves!!! And yet other people wouldn't look twice at her leaves!

Holly leaves are also another favorite. AND I must once again refer to my very first favorite Supreme from the way back,,,,,,Chanticleer! And I do love her flowers also.

I agree that there are just some very plain run of the mill leaves that don't excite me one bit. Then, in that case it is all about the flower!

Maybe that is why,,,,,even though a lot of us are struggling with growing and rooting right now,,,,,,,that we don't give up! We have leaves to look at when the flowers aren't there!

And by paying attention to the "cabbage" when there is no flower, we can focus on pruning leaves off and/or nudging leaves into the correct position so light can penetrate down toward the trunk to stimulate blossom formation. AND because of those leaves, plain or otherwise, they ARE responsible for the uptake of nutrients from the soil so that plant CAN be all it can be!

Begonia it is true that variegated leaves are the pizazz, but try to see the beauty in the simpler green leaf. It is there. And all leaves have their job to do!!!!! Rosie

I don't want "leaf" plants. I need flowers too, but I do like nice leaves. Some of the Optimaras have nicer ones. I dumped them on the floor so I am not positive but I think it is Rhapsodie Clementine with the better foliage in that tray. I grew Navy Girl for quite a few years just because the leaves were such a nice fresh green. It is not "navy" and the blossom wasn't much and mine, at least, seemed to get like a double layer of leaves and I had to pick them off, plus it was a "large" growing as a semi. But it was a nice color. Geez, I have Chanticleer and the leaves are pretty but mine needs better light and I am not sure I want that monster!

Diana

Oh I can't believe you don't want that pretty girl! Her leaves are phenomenal. I remember her vividly. And I understand no one wants just leaves all the time. I guess I was just taking lemons and making lemonade as far as non blooming violets go.

I would LOVE to have violets all blooming at the same time. I think that looks so pretty. There have been a few violet pix with several blooming in a group and it was beautiful.

As far as semi minis,,,,,,I seem to get them and they all want to be larger than a semi mini should be. Don't know why. Rosie

Aegis, your photos and suggestions are really good and contribute a lot of support and knowledge. Your O. Modesty is beautiful, that evenly spaced variegation is very difficult to achieve. Pat yourself on the back. We enjoy your photos. Very few of us can make our violets look that beautiful. Your violets always look that good, time after time. Joanne

Rosie, some people don't mind that they don't bloom or don't mind if they don't bloom much if the foliage is beautiful. It's just that I am not like that. Chanticleer is very impressive but I do have to think about so many large ones and clearly mine is horribly leggy. I did know it was leggy, just not how much, lol. The ones who show sometimes keep them disbudded for 9 mos. so they look at foliage a lot. That is a beautiful plant. I'm wonder if the blossom is quite right on mine though.

As for your semis it could either be the varieties as some are know to get over-large or you might be over potting or over feeding them, etc. You need to keep them repotted and in the right size pots. Some Mac's get big anyway. I forget the semi size but it's not so small. I have a couple of old Lyon's that are very forgiving. I am not sure about Rob's semis but he has some minis that tend to get big I believe. The one that puzzled me was Rob's Bad Bunny which he sells as a micro. I had it from somewhere else and it got bigger leaves so I bought it from VB and it looks just about as big. It does not look like a micro. Now I have two Big Bad Bunnies.

Lovely Hot Spot!

I think semi mini's measure out at 6in diameter? And funny thing is, the leaf size is not what you measure by. You would think so, but it isn't. It is the diameter of the growth. Which doesn't really make a lot of sense to me. On the other hand maybe some of the varieties just plain do get larger. Who knows? Not me.

BTW. Do you think hybridizers propagate thru 3 generations before they release their new creations? To make sure they breed true? I have wondered about that for a long time. A lot of people on this forum have made various comments about named varieties being (I am using my own word here) unstable. Or not the color flower exactly, or some of the many other complaints. Just something to wonder about.

lol, no,,,,,over fertilizing is NOT one of the crimes I commit. EVER. lol I under fertilize regularly, but never over. Well, they grow the way they will grow and I am just happy to care for them and see them bloom.

Thanks for the information! Rosie

Yes, they do, but they have shortcuts. They have ways to get a quick leaf and bloom growth without waiting for the entire plant to grow out. Linda had posted here about it, what Pat Hancock of the Buckeye series told her. But I would not know where the post is.

I think the diameter measurement is a standard used so people have a way to judge for shows, but that also requires the plant to grow out round and flat. Joanne

It occurred to me that I own Joyce Stork's book as an e-book, Rosie. Semis are not to exceed 8" in dia. Minis are 6". I agree, it is kind of confusing as I have this one from Lowe's and I do not know what to call it as it stays small but the leaves are a bit larger than I feel comfortable with for "mini" so I am always waffling.

Hybridizers are supposed to propagate them through 3 generations if they REGISTER them and there is a PERCENTAGE that is supposed to be true. (Sorry for the yelling. I did not know it was not 100% though.) So - if it is not registered sometimes you may not know and even if it is registered, sometimes you do wonder. I have been wondering a lot about some fantasies.

Now let me mention Ralph Robinson. He grows in a certain way and he can keep his plants small (and can make Ramblin' Lassie trail). I would say he does grow them out but then someone else does not grow like he does and some have gotten larger. Over-fertilizing is generally not my issue either. A couple of Mac's did get reclassified as small standards so it may not be you there. Or sometimes you just get a freak. I keep saying they are not factory items :)

Of course some are older varieties that may have strayed over the years. My feeling is that this may have been through what you would call careless breeding if it was dog or something like that. They just sold any old thing. (This is me talking, not the AVSA, mind.) Flower color may be affected by many things though although I had a Ness' Cherry Smoke that pretty much had nearly none. Still there is temp, light, all that. R. Cora as most of know will have a summer look and a winter look and I have no issue with her. That is what many thumbprints do.

Diana

The standard way to measure a plant is to pass a hoop over it. Or was last I knew. Minis - not to exceed 6". Semis not to exceed 8". True these are generally show rules but if we say we are growing minis we might want to keep them in mind.

A miniature trailer just has small leaves - Jersey Girl Trail, Pixie Blue, Wood Trail and Tiny Wood Trail all fall into that category. Those measurements do not count for them. I would think some trailers should be reclassified but they probably can't (as I can't see the difference in leaf size at times - but I shouldn't go there).

Diana I do not take caps as 'shouting' all the time. If your entire post had been all caps, well, then yes you are shouting. But I think sometimes we have to 'ACCENTUATE' something. See? lol

Joanne I understand about too long of an explanation.

But all of the people are so great about answering my queries I enjoy reading all of the different comments AND points of view.

Speaking of different leaf size,,,my beautiful Myakka Trail does have a couple pretty large leaves on her. And not necessarily the really, really old leaves either. They are kind of in the middle of the stem. But I don't care I just love that little girl!

I would like to thank everyone on all of the threads that I have been on that have replied to anything I have ever written. This forum is wonderful. Thank you everyone!!!!!! Rosie

Maybe there is a way to format here but I am too lazy to figure it out everywhere, Rosie.

Now I am nearly the last one to be giving trailer grooming advice, but I was watching podcasts (I think) and they did say it was important to take off the outsize leaves so they were all the same size so perhaps you should remove those. If I ever catch on to grooming them, it would be a miracle. You are welcome if I ever helped, Rosie. (And no, keyboard commands will not format here....)

I've been watching some of the All About African Violets podcasts while I pot (not enough). I'd watched some before so I started and went backward since I couldn't remember where I'd stopped. There is often a useful bit on one that is otherwise maybe not my thing (like design for instance).

Agreed, Annie makes good company when I am puttering around with my violets. When they first came out, I watched one per week as they were new and I was newish. Now, it is more to build on info. I wonder where she gets the plants she grooms, such as that huge trailer from a few weeks ago? J

Would those larger leaves be ok to start??? Well no matter the answer, you ladies KNOW I am gonna try anyway. Lol Rosie

I suppose they are okay to start. We have no real clue what Myakka Trail's leaf size actually should be anyway. The only one I might wonder about is Pixie Blue and that is because in one of my old magazines (and I seem to be the only one who read this), the "Mini Mam" quoted Lyndon Lyons as saying it was unstable and would get bigger leaves sometimes but just remove them. I have wondered if Pixie Blue might vary somewhat in size if it were started from those bigger leaves. (It was actually Pixie Blue and Pixie Pink. I wish I had noted the issue.)

Also Tiny Wood Trail is supposed to be a sport of Wood Trail but lately it seems like people think they look alike so maybe one has gone the other way? My guess would be the tiny one is likely now Wood Trail but I am guessing. I had Tiny Wood Trail once and it did have quite tiny leaves.

Diana

Diana I will look thru the "Mini Ma'am" issues I have and see if that reference is in mine! Rosie

I've tried to grow Alamo Explosion a few times, all unsuccessful.

I may try again. Your plant is beautiful.

Rosie, I am not sure how old those were. Maybe back to the '80's but I am not certain. One also had an article by Holtkamp Sr. which mentioned the genetic defect in Optimaras that makes those blotchy sort of variegated leaves. If you ever look through them, you might watch for that too.

No one seemed interested in anything and I never thought that the AVSA was so ....well I lack the right word for it...about the info in their publications. There were sure some pretty pictures in those, weren't there? I forget what the variety was, but I eventually decided it was the only one that ever looked like that ever :)

Hi Diana! I will admit I only loved the mag for its color pix #1 and what I call the how to do stuff articles #2. The "business" of the mag bored me to tears, nominating, voting for officers, convention business etc.

Now I am glad I still have them for the (believe it or not) violet adds! It tells me what was available then. Which allows me to date the vintage varieties. And not to forget the AVSA Registration Lists!

Oh yes those color photos. I ran across one of Firebird. (I am still looking for her). So beautiful, and again what they called a "Supreme". Oh those leaves! I remember growing her and I was just amazed. Same as Chanticleer.

lol Oh again I sidetripped down Memory Lane! Sorry. But it is so easy to do.

My mags date from early 1970's to early 1980's. Then they came out with a mag about Gesneriads and it also included violets. I don't think it did very well, not like the AVSA. In fact I wonder if it still exists. I will have to get the correct name and look it up. But once again,,,,,those color photos!!!! Rosie

Your plants are beautiful, aegis1000 and 1beautylover2012. I love the Reds, too. I have what I think is Colorado II. NOID from Home Depot back in the beginning of the summer. It's quite the prolific bloomer.

Beautiful! I have been searching for this color!

Rosie, I think you may be like me when I started up again and wanted my old ones and so many were gone but I hadn't been "gone" quite as long. You are right that there was so much info in the ads. I wanted to order so bad. Ronn Nadeau would make crosses for you. It was just a few years ago that I was going through the magazines and even trying to make a record of what was interesting and where but, like I said, no one else seemed interested and then I kind of had a bad patch and just got rid of my magazines.

It was mentioned on Brats that at one point there was a split from the AVSA and maybe that is what you are thinking about. I don't remember it but will try to find the info. It did not succeed though and left only the AVSA even though there were some issues. You are right, the business was dull for us. I should not say this and I do not know the lady's name and I am sure she was a nice lady but her photo was with one of those fur tippets (?) maybe and the hat and I always thought of her as the AVSA lady :). The club lady. No it was not a leopard skin pillbox hat - not quite. That would have been a jazzy club lady.

I have Firebird grown from a Bloomlovers leaf. I don't know if it is how it is supposed to be or not. I threw out the extras. I have one plainer leaf but it still has a white ruffled blossom and one ruffled leaf but the blossoms aren't very big.

My Fredettes still do pretty well for me but so many are gone. I said I don't know if it is me but I don't think it's entirely me. I used to see the show photos and get so excited by them and that just isn't happening. For one, you can only admire so many Buckeye Cranberry Sparklers until your eyes glaze over..... I am thinking about trying it.

If anyone wants to know what red I have (and I am not much for red), I have Lyon's REd Rocket which is adequate, Tomahawk which is rather new to me, and Ma's Fourth Planet which is much prettier than it sounds. And O. Millennia if you count that. Powwow has not grown up yet. I had Lyon's Zoe and Red Lantern but the colors just weren't nice on Zoe and Red Lantern seemed to fade although the white edge was good.

Diana

I'm also growing Red Rocket, which makes a nice red bloomer. It grows well and blooms often. It's color is a bit warmer than other AV reds, and it has a nice thin silvery ruffled edge. It has good potential for being a standout plant.

I've had a little more trouble growing Red Lantern, but when it grows well, it can be impressive. I'm trying it again, and should get bloom before the end of the year.

The most surprising red I've grown has been Frosty Cherry, where the brightness of the red is enhanced by the presence of white in the bloom.

I've also grown Bob Serbin, Lady in Red, Secret Rendezvous, and gotten nice bloom from them. I'm currently waiting to see bloom on Jazzy Jewel, and Dancin' Devil.

Red Lantern grew very well for me but the color tended to fade. Even under the Gro-Lux it just wasn't as showy. DH likes reds better than I do and he did not miss it. (I am not sure but the little ones might have been somewhat light sensitive.) Diana

Aegis I love your photos of your violets. They are beautiful!

Diana I know who you mean. Her name was Adele Tretter. She may have been the one in charge of registration of varieties. I do have one of those fur things. Got it in a bunch of fabric I bought. Poor creatures! I will never sew with it, I don't know what to do with it but non the less I have it up in my sewing room!

I always thought that I had a subscription to AVSA mag., before GSN (Gesneriad Saintpaulia News) but I looked at the dates and AVSA dates on my mag starts in 1970 and my GSN starts in the 60's. hmmmm so much for "memory"!

Speaking of a red. About 2 weeks ago I bought a beautiful red violet at Lowe's. (of course, no name). But that was really a super shade of red. Not to the magenta, this is RED! It only had two flowers and they are now gone but I can't wait til it blooms again.

I am in the process of bringing in plants off the deck and putting the rest of the violets on wicks. Only the violets are on wicks except for one begonia. I have lots of trouble with them in the winter so I figured I'd try it on a wick. So far, so good.

My plant of Evelyn is really blooming now. I got her a while back from Lowes and only bought it because she had an actual tag in her! I will try to remember to take pix and post it.

Here is what Optimara site has to say about her. Rhapsodie Evelyn Variety
Number: 17/ Series: Rhapsodie/ Pot Size: 4-inch large standard/ Bloom Type:
Single/ Bloom Color: Blue/ Leaf Type: Plain/ Leaf Color: Dark green, red
reverse leaf/ Year Introduced: 1987/ Year Revised: 2004/ AVSA Registration
Number: 6612/ Patent Number: 4154.

And she looks like the photo also! This is the photo from Optimara site, not mine. So does that mean I inadvertantly bought "an oldie"?????? And what does "Year revised" mean?

Whatever it means,,,,,,I love her and she is a keeper! Rosie