I liked Blue Dragon. I'd definitely buy it from Lyons ...

they have a website?

Both of them are specialized in African violet with good reputation. They have their own website. I visited lyndon lyon greenhouse in the spring. Pay attention to their winter shipping schedule.

It is an off season on ebay - the time of winter shipping - which is expensive and unreliable - less people sell and the prices go up.

You can get Blue Dragon in spring - ebay or Lyndon Lyon - when the weather is going to be nicer. It is an older LLG hybrid, so make sense to order it from them.

Flowers are fantastic, plant itself is not especially well behaved. It performs the best when it is young, with time it becomes gnarly, develops thick trunk, blooms less.

I would say $8 for a healthy starter is a good price - $35 - is way too much. But it is an auction - so people sometimes are getting carried away. Next week the same seller will be sitting with the same variety - and no takers. So you can pick it up for a listing price.

Yeah, can't say plant habit/look appeals to me, but really nice blossom.

Since I have to stare at the plant for the entire year and there may be times with few to no flowers, no, it would not be worth it to me. There's too many other neat AVs out there with more pleasing form.

Well went over to the Lyons site and found about 30 fantasy violets I would love to have!! Including the 'Blue Dragon'. I wish shipping of violets was not so high. It is SO expensive to ship tiny lightweight things. I know they have to pack them carefully, but it is the main reason I don't overbuy on E-bay, other than I am broke most of the time.

I managed to get my list down to 5 fantasy violets, 3 brand new varieties, and 2 older ones. But very FANTASY,.....not just lightly speckled, but major splashes and streaks. Still over $70, the shipping kills the total,...$17 to ship 5 plants is E-Bay prices. *** Since others here have bought from Lyons, how big of a plant do you get for your money? A starter plug, or a near blooming plant? Or what?

Lyon's starter plants are the largest I've received (not counting full-sized plants).

In this season, Lyons will be careful to ensure that you receive healthy plants.

I'd consider them to be a good investment.

I paid $13.00 to ship my last Lyons order (4 plants) in June.

You're paying an approximate $5.00 dollar surcharge to receive your plants at this time. Optionally, you can elect to wait until April or so, and save $5.00.

Make sure don't order and ship around holiday because the package will stuck in local postal office for additional day or 2. Probably won't happen to other area, but at least in my local post office.

You are in FL - and Lyndon Lyon is in upstate NY. Think about the weather there - it is definitely below freezing in a night time - and they need to pack for it.

5 plants with insulation and packing material will be easily over 2 pounds. Check the priority shipping between your home and 13329 zip. It will easily be $13-14.

So - really - the overhead for packing materials and labor is minimal.

I do not know what part of FL you are - but on February 8-19 they are running a State Fair in Tampa - and I know for sure that a Gesneriad Society of Tampa is going to have a sale there. They will be selling named AVs for $5 a piece, they will have a gorgeous display. Go for it.

Irina

I just googled the plant and it's definitely beautiful, but not worth $40-50. The others offered some really good shopping advice--best of luck. :o)

Btw, it doesn't matter much how large the plants are, they'll be blooming (with good care) in three months anyway.

Why don't you buy leaves instead and grow it yourself? Just a thought and a LOT cheaper. So is shipping. Rosie

i cant root plants from leaves, it takes WAY to long to get blooms. Then I end up with like 10 plantlets to snip off, to get 1 full sized plant, and get a good shape.

I think i managed to root a few leaves in my gardening life, but it just takes to long to get to blooming size. I pay for the fully ready plant. So I get blooms in weeks not 6-9 months.. I dont buy any violets in winter. The minute i hear thee is another $2-3 for a heat pack, I stop buying. I am in south Fla. The next plant show is in Jan. The annual Orchid Society show. THAT is REALLY expensive. but they never have any violets. I know of no violet shows in my area.

Well, it does take at least six months (for me) to get blooms from leaves. I think people growing under lights can do it faster.

Yeah, Florida for all of its nurseries and other plant related industries really does not seem to cater to AV folks. When I go to this areas largest nurseries (Tallahassee) I rarely see any AV's. If they have any, there is nobody who knows anything about them and they are rarely named.

I will wait until proper shipping season before I buy any new plants from anywhere North of Georgia. The way the crazy USPS mail runs, you never know where your mail goes before it gets to you. A plant you buy from Texas may go to Atlanta before it comes back to Florida.

By the way of Atlanta is not bad... one of my boxes went to Boston by the way of Detroit... took 8 days, someway the plants survived it.

Different people like different things in plants. For me - starting a new leaf - is the most exciting. You anticipate it rooting, setting babies, you enjoy potting potting new plants ... so full of promise. And then you have several young plants coming to bloom.

Some people like to grow for show - so the keep their plants disbudded all the time enjoying the symmetry of the leaves, coaxing a young plant to grow to perfection - and finally permitting them to blossom all over and taking their pride and joy to the Show for everybody to admire.

And some people like the finished product. They try to buy the bigger plant so it comes to bloom faster - and they enjoy the blooming - the longer the better.

Plants address different needs...

I am like Irina,,,,I like to start the leaf and watch it grow. I don't care about showing or going to shows. I don't want an already "done" one. Well, I won't refuse it, but if it is my choice I will start from a leaf! I just like to take care of them and watch them and when they finally bloom for me,,,well,,,that is the best part of all! But everyone has their own preference and that is ok also. Difference makes the world go around! Rosie

Well I am FAR from ever showing violets. But I want like a 4in potted violet, like you buy at Lowes. It is grown,blooming and costs $4. Thats great! To get my fantasy ones, of course, i have to buy privately or from Lyons, and buy a plug/starter plant. But at least it isnt a leaf. I want flowers, and a decent sized plant NOW, not in 6-9 months. Thus the 'Blue Dragon', I want a plant now, and blooms in a few months at the most. I am waiting for a reply from an email i sent to Lyons, no answer yet. To see about their fantasy violet supply. If they are only a few of them left, or plenty and can take a few more days to decide which i can afford to buy,and ship!

My take is - hobby is a luxury. Luxury is always expensive and it is not a first necessity - not a roof over your head, food and gas. You want something - you need to be patient and wait, save the money or just wait for your lucky chance - and eventually get it - OH JOY!

If everything could be bought in Home Depot in full bloom for $4... it wouldn't be a hobby. It would be a shopping for a house decorating with live plants.

We all need to have a dream...

So true Irina, as I counted hours after retirement, I find I always need goal(s) to give life direction and prevent eternal boredom.

For me, multiple goals could be served by obtaining plant, growing plant (from leaf maybe), getting plant to first flowering,etc.

I think the one common characteristic that I have observed amongst non commercial AV growers is a need to nurture. The same sentiments that tug at my heart when Im working with a new puppy seem to be present when that first little mouse ear pops up.

Thank goodness there are numerous aspects to growing plants so that we can all find some part that really appeals to us.

For me, its the science and the degree of difficulty. If its easy and I am not learning something, I probably won't be doing it very often.

jmho

I hope it's hard and you're learning something, so you keep at it often.

Jeff you have a puppy?????? awwwwww. Rosie

None right now but I have had many. I bred dachshunds for many years. There is hardly a chair or table leg in the place that does not show evidence of puppy teeth!

Awww, how cute are they!!! My puppy just turned 2 in October. He is a rescue, a mutt. Or do they call them "designer dogs" now? Ha! A mix is a mix. Yeah teeth marks. Got them from 50 years of puppies and dogs! Love 'em!!!!

Oh well, I finally got him to stop shaking my pots of plants until they are empty!!!! THAT is a plus!!!! Lost more plants that way. Now he doesn't bother them. I don't think. Rosie

Poohbear, I have bought from Lyon's for many years. It is best to wait until spring. You can place an order, they will hold it until their ideal shipping. It is not just about the shipping. You will get much better starter plants in the spring. What you will get now is old stock. As one expert, long time member said, you must have patience if you are to enjoy this hobby. Blue Dragon is not one of my favorites and probably is not ideal for beginners because of its unruly growth pattern. Lyon's has any number of mid tone blue fantasy to choose from. Read the description very carefully. For some reason, I was not crazy about the flower form or color. Just a bit too unkempt looking. I have grown lots of Lyon's hybrids. The older hybrids often do better. They are reliable old stock. Do not be overly impressed with the photos. It can take several bloom cycles to reach full potential. Usually, your starter plant will arrive with a bloom just so you know what it is. You will need to let the leaves grow out. They will grow much faster and more evenly in spring. Once they grow symmetrically, it might be time to move it to a 4" pot. That is when I encourage blooming. I also use Lyon's potting mix. It is balanced for their plants. They sell pots, also. Lyon's has some nice Russians also. The fantasies can be unpredictable

Regarding color pattern, and sometimes do not show right away. The Blue Dragons I saw that friends had did not bloom heavily or have strong fantasy markings. But the plants were young. The plant can get large and the blooms larger than average, but fewer of them.

The non-fantasies in the mid blue range of Lyon's are quite beautiful. I have better success with solid or slight two-tone rather than fantasy. As for Florida, I believe a well known company or two are there. However, Lyon's is the most reliable mail order source for me. If there ever are any violet shows nearby, you will meet others. I have seen several post on line. Florida seems to have very compatible conditions for violets.

Hi to Rosie, Irina, Aegis! I have not been posting in a long while. Irina, I always learn something new from you. This time, about aeration. Joanne

Joanne - welcome back!!!!

Blue Dragon - Double light blue large frilled star/raspberry edge. Dark green, plain/red back.

No fantasy marking here. There is a couple of Russians varieties probably with BD in parentage - Blue Eyed Russia (Goluboglazaja Rossija) is one of them. Blossoms are pretty close - but the plant is easier and more symmetrical. Good bloomer too.

Joanne good to hear from you again! Certainly missed your postings! As for Blue Dragon,,,I have never had it and don't know anything about it. Just wanted to say hi to Joanne!!!! Rosie

Rosie - who cares about Blue Dragon... We Have You!

HAHA!!! Irina you are the greatest!!!! But maybe someday I will have a Blue Dragon,,,,I think I will put it on my "Wish List" !!! Rosie

a stupid little 2oz solo cup 'plug' of Blue Dragon just sold on EBay for OVER $45!!!!! I stopped looking after $45 Lyons has it for $10 and they called me yesterday, and told me they are still shipping to the south, like my area, for the summer rates. So i am placing an order this week. $45!!!! THAT is stupid, there must be some reason people are paying THAT price for a Blue Dragon PLUG! i want it....and to know WHY????

I've given up scratching my head over some Ebay buyers. Maybe they live in an alternate reality. Whatever! I recall one lady stating on Facebook that she has plenty of money and doesn't really care about prices. Perhaps this type of buyer just loves to win!

I think it is easy to get caught up in the bidding. If there is something you want, you search it out, and then,,,no matter what you say to yourself,,,,it isn't so much that you want it at ANY price you get caught up in the bidding process! Which is why I only look to EBAY for pretty pix and information!!! Rosie

You should always check AV vendors before entering into bidding on ebay. It's easy to bid far beyond the price you would pay at Lyons, Violet Barn, Fancy Bloomers, etc.

One week it is minimum price, next week it is $50, week after next - nobody bids.

If it is rare and very desirable - it is one story. Why Blue Dragon? - somebody got into a gambling mode. Usually it is 2 players. If you want something on ebay - you decide the max price for yourself. Lets say - I am not going to pay for this BD more than $11.50. And that's it. If somebody bids over this price - they are welcome to it.

So it is not about the real price of a merchandise.

It is an overwhelming desire to win, logic doesn't work until the prices go quite high. So far nobody paid $10000 for an AV. So sooner or later the brain engages.

PoohBearLvr, Isn't Lyon's wonderful? They called you! They are the best. Irina, You are correct, Blue Dragon is not a fantasy. It has an edge that is supposed to be raspberry but when I had it, was murky and blurry. Some Lyon's plants look good only under grow lights. It was popular with two of my friends, so they grew it in a shared office. So I could observe its growth. Lyon's is always trying something new, which is great. When B.D. first came out, with the colored edge, it was all the rage. Also, the name helped its popularity. When I first heard "blue dragon," I had to see what all the excitement was. For example, if it was called "blue taffeta petticoat," no man would have given it a second glance! Lyon's also has limited supply, so that added to the desirability. Anyway, PoohBearLvr, we look forward to your adventures with the little dragon! Joanne

I dont HAVE any 'Little Dragon', unless someone is sending me one that I dont know about? I would be VERY happy to get an early/only X-Mas present of the dragon, or another fantasy one??

I like the blue with a raspberry edge. to me that is fantasy. Not like Cosmic art, or Cosmic Silk, but it is pretty and i want one. I am not stupid enough to buy one for OVER $45, like it just sold for on Ebay, for some reason. I still cant understand that!! Its like it was the first solid deep yellow, or first the first polka dotted violet.

IF I manage to get the cash, and can place an order now with Lyons, i will, and get a Blue Dragon, they said they will ship to me, since I am in the deep south,as long as it is still not COLD up there,but sooner or later , they will have to start the winter shipping prices, and I WON'T pay that!

They said it is triple the price. On EBay, when I just HAVE to get a violet, for some reason in like January, the add a heat pack to the box, for $2-4, why Lyons triples their price i dont understand. The violets I get in 'winter' from a cold place, always arrive in a hot box!

The heat pack lasts for days, outside of the box, after it has arrived, I keep it around to see how long it lasts, and they last a long time and put out a lot of heat. . And the violets are alive and grow well. Never a problem. better packing in winter, it seems.

I think they send stuff in styrofoam coolers. And styrofoam coolers are not cheap plus you get extra weight with it and bigger dimensions - USPS takes a bigger chunk. Violet Barn ships Priority Express in winter - and it is $27 to start with. Heat packs are not really 100% reliable. Sometimes they do not start, sometimes they overheat.

My take - they do not make money on shipping, they make money on plants. If they charge more - the shipping supplies cost more, shipping cost more and the employee who does the packing spends more time on each box.

None of us is filthy rich and we all try to be frugal.

So - let's try to control our cravings till the end of March when the shipping gets to be normal.