Hiya all! I have had the streptocarpus bug for a while now and I would really love to get a hold of either a starter plant or some leaves. If anyone out there would like to trade for some leaves or starter plant, dont care what color, give me a email and we will see what can be done! thanks alot whisst

Hi there, The American Gesneriad Society is having their convention in Vancouver (Richmond) this year. If you can make it there July 2-3, there will be lots of plants, including episcias. I will be picking some up myself. I don't have any available to trade as my family takes all my extras. You might want to keep an eye out for African violet club sales -- there is a club in Edmonton and maybe one in Calgary. There are usually a good selection of episcias available as they're very easy to propagate.

I might have some things to swap if you're interested. The only thing is that it'll be probably a month before it's warm enough here to send anything. It's 22 and snowing here today *sigh*. I have: Sinningia pusilla several NOID Sinnigia hybrids. I have no idea what color they are or what their parents are. They were given to me by someone who planted a bunch of eBay seeds and they haven't flowered for me yet. They hate it here. If I put them where there's enough light, my cats eat them. If I put them out of my cats' reach, there's not enough light. Other than my Sinningias and Aeschynanthus, they leave my plants alone. Alsobia dianthifloria--I have several nicely rooted plants I also have an Aeschynanthis radicans 'Rasta', a Columnea 'Merlot', and cuttings of a georgeous NOID Columnea with orange flowers that is almost always in bloom for me. With the exception of the cuttings, they're all nicely rooted. I don't know if you're interested in any of the bigger gessies or not, but I thought I'd mention it.

I got discouraged - I got some heat packs last year - and I sent my last shipment to PA 3 times. First - it didn't start and plants froze. Second - it started with the vengeance - and plants got cooked. Third time - the weather shortly smiled at us - and the shipment went through just right. Without a heat pack. Irina, former "aspenkeep" - now "ezy101".