Finally, another meeting accomplished. We are growing by leaps and bounds! Three at the first meeting, 4 at the 2nd.... It was a great opportunity for all of us to get together, for we are all lacking for face to face violet buddies. It was an evening of pizza, frenzied leaf and plantlet swapping, a tour of my growing, and wouldn't you know it, someone spotted thrips on one of my violets. Later, an inspection revealed two more plants that seem to be affected, but it looks as though it is caught in the very early stages, for they are about 1/3 the usual size. Time will tell, but I needed to disbud anyway. I'm going to try treating in a sealed box with a vaponex strip, since it SEEMS limited at this point. Barbara

That's a very neat idea! I'm surprised that I never saw those pots. Perhaps they weren't distributed everywhere or perhaps my mother simply didn't use wicks on anything but african violets and used round pots. I would imagine the square ones probably cost a little more, what with the corners. They are definitely kind of neat looking :). If you can find them, there's a fair chance they will be usable. I know I rescued a couple that were my mom's and one is turquoise. Aside from being a little faded, it's fine. The later ones came in more garish colors (orange, bright yellow and green at best). The problem is that flower pots aren't seen as having value, especially plastic ones. Even most McCoy ones aren't selling on eBay and there has to be a market before things show up there. I don't know what your budget might be, but check and see if eBay has any place to list "wanted" items. Those "pickers" are out there. I have no idea if Craigslist is an option. We don't have it and I only looked at it for antique sewing machines for awhile. As for the plants, I'd suggest joining the AVSA if you haven't already. There are some people there who might be able to help with information. I found an ad in a 1975 AVSA magazine for Buell's which offered a list of "all we grow." A piece of their literature would be helpful. Although you will find that many of the plants from that time period are lost, some are still available. There is a certain interest in vintage violets and John Cook at Cape Cod was still selling some on eBay last season. You don't have to go back as far as the original 10. One thing you might want to consider when choosing, is whether they are "droppers" or not. I grow Blue Boy (1948), Happy Harold (1971) and Midnight Radiation (1983) and they are all very messy droppers. A roomful like that would be a nightmare. Tommie Lou (1967) does not drop and Feather (prob. 80s), drops but doesn't make the mess. I think you may be able to create the vintage look with slightly newer plants. There are still Eyerdom (Granger Gardens, Granger) and Lyon's varieties available from this era also. Bloomlovers.com carries some vintage, although you have to grow them from leaves or plugs. Good luck with this project. If you find any round turquoise pots, send them this way, lol. Diana

Thank you, I have searched & searched for the manufacturer that makes & sells the dandy pots to Garden centers but it escapes me. They will probably have to use dixie cups. Maybe they can have a few dandy pots out & give the kids the option of using the free dixie or buying the dandy pot at the groups retail cost. I have a business & tax number & could order & store the extra's for them. I'm sure the group would divide up the extra's & buy them at cost themselves to fill a larger order but I just can not find the info. One in the group is going to a flower show this weekend & will look for the info. The internet has never let me down before. thanks again.

I have 3, EverGrace, EverBeautiful, and EverRejoice. I love that they're constantly in bloom. Other violets come close to being always in bloom, but I've never seen one that was like these.