I would love to get either leaves or starter plants for any variety of African Violets. My grandmother always collected these so they have a sentimental value to me. I have some vegetable seeds I purchased by the pack that I could trade for it.

You're all very kind! 'Empowerment' was one of my very first hybridizations way back in the 1980's and the original bush still remains vigorous. The rose has always been a highlight of my summer with those lovely and lasting blooms. I was surprised and thrilled to have seen a few nice bushy specimens at Store Store and almost had purchased one for myself, but honestly that just felt strange paying for my own rose, lol. It has superior bloom quality to 'Winnipeg Parks' and puts on a display that makes one stop and stand there admiring ... though, 'Winnipeg Parks' has near continuous repeat, wish I could say the same for mine, both roses having merit, Although, it tempting to leave as much live wood as possible on this rose, I do stress it really does appreciate a severe spring cut back to just a few inches above the ground to encourage fewer and stronger shoots to carry the mass of blooms. One year I hadn't pruned as such and it became a mass of smaller finer stems and the display just did not WOW as usual. I'd also recommend a tomato cage for support. Although, in it's 30 years or so, it has seen winters with scant snow, it has not been trialed under completely snowless conditions, so I do think best to plant 3 inches of the stem below ground just for good measure! Good, bad or ugly, I'd later appreciate others comments, I won't take it personally for the genetic roll of the dice the rose was granted. Kelly, if by chance you're in a humid region, I can't promise of it's health, while it has remained spotless in my yard with high disease pressure, it did not perform as well in Ontario's humidity, so it's being released as a regional rose. Prairie_northrose ... yes, Bylands is the propagator of the rose. Unfortunately, despite my desire to forge forward and again pick up speed with hybridization, this year will again be very lean in that aspect, this yard is just too large and high maintenance to allow me to get on top of things and place more emphasis on what I wish. This lovely rose seedling I had unfortunately lost ... though, I still have both parents, so I must attempt to redo the cross! PNR, please be sure to post photos this summer of your rose breeding efforts, we're going in different directions and it's fun to see the results! :)

No winter protection Moses! At my old house it hardly had dieback with no winter protection... It should start taking off next year... :-) I was just looking at it today... That bare spot to the left.. WAS Sunorita Rose... Blooms were ugly and foliage is disease ridden so removed it today... EARTHSONG... REMOVED SUNORITA rose

tabb, in addition to our personal conversation, I'll add that you can post your great list in the Plant Exchange, and House Plant Exchange as well as the Garden Exchange. There may be others that fit your needs, too. It doesn't look like there is an African Violet Exchange anymore but you ought to visit the AV forum just to nose around. Just don't select one of general gardening forums when you submit your post.