Hi all; I would like to introduce myself, too, although I'm afraid my story is more of a lab notebook entry than a fairy tale. I am a newbie in this forum, although I have been growing African violets for a few years. I have always liked the green and yellow ones, but most of my collection did not survive moving across the country 4 years ago. After that, I was content with my three survivors (Blue Dragon, Blueberry Splash, and a trailer that I grew from a Park seed packet). I enjoyed them, but didn't really feel like getting any more. Then I read this interesting book called "The Botany of Desire." The main premise is that just as plants and insects co-evolve, shaping each other's characteristics, we have a powerful effect on plants, and they have an effect on us. Offering something that people want, like fruit, flowers, or bioactive natural products, is a good evolutionary strategy for a plant. However, the downside of this comes when everybody wants the same thing - the huge genetic diversity of the ancestral apple tree is ignored because everyone buys red delicious apples. This made me think about my African violets, and how a lot of them have been selected to make a flat, symmetric rosette for showing, and I started wondering what other interesting things lurk in the African violet genome. And then I discovered the David Senk plants. I'm a huge fan. So far, I have a plantlet of Say What, and two leaves of Merlot. I can't wait for Merlot to produce plantlets. It's so weird! Longfolia, bustles, a little bit of variegation, what could be better? I also thought it would be nice to check out some of the older varieties, so I picked up Blue Tail Fly and Celery. Hooray for eBay! Anyway, it's nice to (virtually) meet you all -seems like a good crowd. Rachel

Jeff, Must be the good ol' days in SD, huh? I quit growing Kals - they were absolutely beautiful for me in summer, but winter brough leaf drop, etoliation and misery for the poor babies. Beharensis is one of my favorites, too - it's so rugged yet soft looking! Are you able to grow any well up in the Great White North?? Denise in Omaha

Almost time for season three. Still love this show, but I have to admit...I miss the enchanted forest. I love the flashbacks, especially with Snow White and the Prince. Great costumes, sets/effects, all those trees...and I just think she looks better with the long hair! Shallow, I know, but there it is :) From Snow White album

Did anyone see the backsplash in Emma's NY kitchen? I really like that layout, although it's a little more contemporary. Maybe it's because of the old bricks on the window wall :)