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March / April 2014 LSAVC Newsletter Volume XXIX, No. 2
- 1 -
Hello LSAVC Subscribers!
The spring weather has finally arrived. It has been an
exceptionally cold winter, and it is wonderful to have
the 80 degree weather and sunshine back again.
The AVSA Convention in Nashville from May 25-
June 1 will be here before you know it! Holtkamp
Greenhouses and Opryland, here we come! Here is
your convention check list.
1. Mail your Convention registration to the AVSA
Office.
2. Remember to purchase tickets for banquets,
tours, and workshops being offered.
3. Bring lots of beautiful violets, Gesneriads, and
designs. There are very few clubs in the
Nashville area, so your entries will be needed.
4. Sign up to help as a host/hostess in the showroom
or at the Convention Registration table. Contact
information is in the next paragraph.
5. Be sure to bring your purple cowboy hat and
your Austin AVSA Convention T-shirt!
We are in need of some LSAVC workers to help out in
a couple of areas at the Nashville convention.
Joan Santino, President of Mid-Atlantic AVS, is
gathering names of those who would be available to
assist as a host/hostess in the Showroom. Please
contact Joan via email at [email protected] to set
up a time.
Be sure to save the date for the LSAVC Convention in
Plano! It will be held October 30-November 1, at the
Southfork Hotel. This year's theme will be Violets
Visit Southfork. We will be having a fun night on
Friday, October 31, with a Kickin' Up Your Heels
party as well as discounted tours of Southfork Ranch.
Be there!
Have a safe trip to Nashville. See ya'll there!
Mary Corondan
LONE STAR AFRICAN VIOLET COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
Tineke – BIS 2014 - Spring Branch AVC, Houston TX
won by Kay Black
Rob’s Miriwinni – Best in Show & Best Trailer, Austin
FAAVS 2014, won by Glenda Williams
March / April 2014 LSAVC Newsletter Volume XXIX, No. 2
- 2 -
Springtime is such a wonderful time in the African
violet world. Seems like there are African violet shows
all over! I wish there were some way I could attend
ALL of them. And please – if anyone has photos send
them to me and I will include in our newsletter.
This was the first time in a while for me to enter a club
show. Have to say I am thoroughly enjoying being a
member in the First Austin AVS. Really great club and
really great people! Wonderful!!! (not to mention – I
very surprisingly won Best Mini with Precious Red!!
It is such an honor to have Dolores Gibbs in the First
Austin AVS group. The Austin Statesman had an article
on her 50 years with the FAAVS group which was
celebrating it’s 50 years (included in this newsletter).
You can not imagine how many people stopped by to
see her!
I fell in love with Dave Gregg’s article on loving Streps!
And seems I could think of a LOT more reasons than he
did. Thanks to Dave, and I hope everyone checks out
the Cubits Strep by Strep web site found at,
http://cubits.org/Strepbystrep/
Marjorie
LSAVC Collection Rosettes
To obtain LSAVC collection rosettes for your local show
check which rosettes you need (note: the $3.00 charge
applies only to postage; there is no charge for the ribbons)
1st place Std 1st place semimini
2nd Place Std 2nd place semimini
send one copy of your club show schedule with a $3 check
payable to LSAVC Awards Chairman to:
Susan Storey
LSAVC Awards Chair
110 Rogers Ridge Street
San Marcos TX 78666-4715
(note: the total cost due is $3.00, regardless of number of
ribbons ordered. This charge applies only to postage; there is
no charge for ribbons).
Spring shows are upon us and it is time to getting ready
for the National AVSA Convention in Nashville, TN.
May 25th thru June 1st. I am looking forward to all my
fellow Texans to take the trip the Heartland of
Country.
Exhibitors need to be preparing to move your lovely
African Violets and designs to the Nashville area.
Transportation of our precious African Violet plants
should be carefully thought out so they will arrive in
good shape for the show. Plants should be in
containers with foliage supported and plant container
secured for minimal movement. Support blossoms
with cotton or tissue to prevent damage. For designs,
it is best to secure the base in a larger container, and
then support any pieces that may move too much and
cause damage. Container gardens require support in
and around plants, rocks or wood to ensure minimal
movement during transport. Safe traveling and let us
have lots of fun in Nashville and don’t forget to “NOT”
take off the sales tag off your hat……
Janet
AVSA Convention
May 25 - June 2, 2014
Nashville, Tennessee
Table of Contents
President’s Message ........................................ 1
Editor / Co-Editor’s Columns ......................... 2
The Texas Winners Are ................................. 3
Why You Should Love Streps – D. Gregg .... 4-5
Judging School – Spring Branch AVS ............ 5
Show, Club & Member-50 Years ................... 6-7
Photos of Some of the Winners ...................... 8
Ad Page ........................................................... 9
All photographs used in this newsletter are by
Marjorie Bullard, unless otherwise noted.
Marjorie Bullard, Editor
1231 Huisache #905
New Braunfels TX 78130
Telephone: 830-632-6000
e-mail: [email protected]
Janet Castiglione, Co-Editor
313 Plantation Oak Avenue
Lake Dallas, Texas 75065-2206
Home Phone: 940-321-5638
e-mail: [email protected]
March / April 2014 LSAVC Newsletter Volume XXIX, No. 2
- 3 -
The Texas Winners Are …
Spring Branch African Violet Club - Houston TX
Kay Black won Best in Show and Best Chimera with Tineke,
Best Standard-Ma’s Soiree, Best Variegated Standard and 2nd
Best in Show with Buckeye Sentimental Reasons, Best
Standard Red and Best Munk Hybrid - First Houston, Best
Trailer- Deer Trail, Best Miniature- Orchard’s Bumble
Magnet, Best Semimini- Rob’s Pink Buttercups, Best
Vintage- Nancy Reagan. Best AVSA Std Collection: Frosted
Whisper, Ma’s Soiree, Buckeye Sentimental Reasons; Best
AVSA Small Collection: Jolly Dear, Jolly Texan, Jolly
Splashy; Best LSAVC Small Collection: Cloud Puff, Honey
Blue Ace, Jolly Orchid, and Horticulture Sweepstakes with
27 blue ribbons.
Jane Rexilius won Best Texas Hybrid, Best Jolly, and Best
Hortense Pittman Plant with Jolly Butterfly, Best Gesneriad-
Primulina tabacum, Best Episcia –‘Pink Dreams’, 2nd Best
Design, Best Container Garden – “The Swanee River”, Best
Natural Garden- “Waltz Across Texas”, Design Sweepstakes
with 9 blue ribbons, and Runner-up to Horticulture
Sweepstakes with 21 blue ribbons.
Beverly Johnson won Best Novice-Rebel’s Splatter Kake
and Best Project Plant-Cajun’s Queen Sugar.
Vickie Crider won Best Sinningia with Sinningia “Sky High
Red”.
Elaine Click won Best Streptocarpus with Streptocarpus
‘Lavender Ruffles’.
Ruth Goeke won Best Flower Arrangement and Best Design-
“My Favorite Things”, Best Plant Arrangement “The
Guitar”, and was Runner-Up to Design Sweepstakes with 8
blue ribbons.
First African Violet Society of Denton, TX
Richard Nicholas won Best Standard and Best in Show with
Lyon’s Red Rocket, Best Streptocarpus with Streptocarpus
Teleri’, Best Unusual Container- Rob’s Willawong, Best
AVSA Std Collection: Favorite Child, Lyon’s Red Rocket,
and Wrangler’s El Diablo.
Anne Nicholas won Best Semimini and 2nd Best in Show-
Precious Pink, Best Mini- Jolly Orchid, Best Design in Show
‘Birthday Party’, Best Small AVSA Collection: Rob’s Fuzzy
Navel, Rob’s Inner Orbit, Dean’s Sonata; Best LSAVC Small
Collection: Precious Pink, Jolly Eyes, and Dean’s Cupid.
Eunice Curry won Best Episcia and Best Gesneriad with
Episcia ‘Blue Nile’.
Janet Castiglione won Design Sweepstakes with 3 blue
ribbons.
Pat Castiglione won Best Container Garden with her dish
garden.
Glenda Curry won Best Trailer with Rob’s Galiwinku and
Best Species with S. 5b clone confuse
First Austin AVS Show – Austin TX
Glenda Williams won Best in Show and Best Trailer with
Rob’s Miriwinni; Best Standard- Grape Glory, Best
Variegated-Kid Karla, Best Species- S. 5b clone confuse
Mather E., Best LSAVC Small Collection: Jolly Frills, Kid
Karla, and Sunshine Lady, 2nd Best AVSA Small Collection,
and was Runner Up to Horticulture Sweepstakes with 28
blue ribbons. JoAnne Rogers won Best Semimini, Best Texas Hybridized
AV, and 2nd Best in Show with Cool Blue.
Dolores Gibbs won Best Gesneriad with Sinningia "Bright
Eyes" x concinna
Marjorie Bullard won Best Mini with Precious Red.
Penny Smith-Kerker won Best Texas Hybridized Gesneriad
with Streptocarpus 'Texas Hot Chili'
Kathy Brewster won Best AVSA Standard Collection with
Kamennyi Tsvetok. Candy Swirls, and Green Horizon, Best
Hanging Basket, and Horticulture Sweepstakes with 34 blue
ribbons.
Susan Kautz won Best Vintage Violet with Sunlit Sugar
Plum, Best Small AVSA Collection: Ness' Mini Sota Blue,
Ness' Satin Rose Blue, and Dean's Lucienne, and 2nd Best
AVSA Std Collection.
Danny Tidwell won Best Interpretive Flower Arrangement
and Best Design in Show with ‘Sunken Treasure’;Best
Interpretive Plant Arrangement- ‘Gold Medal’, and Design
Sweepstakes with 11 blue ribbons.
Diane Buck won Best Container Garden ‘Panning for
Gold’.
Mary Husk was Runner-Up to Design Sweepstakes with 3
blue ribbons.
Dallas Metro AVS Show – Dallas TX
Meredith Hall won Best in Show and Best Std with Frosty
Frolic, and Best Gesneriad with Episcia ‘Coco’.
Hortense Pittman won Best Mini- Jolly Bambino, Best
Trailer- Foster Trail, and Best AVSA Small Collection:
Jolly Orchid, Cloud Puff, and Jolly Apollo.
Mary Corondan won Best Semimini- Jolly Fireball, Best
AVSA Std Collection-Mariah, Optimara North Carolina,
and Rebel’s Rose Bud, Paula Foster Award with Rebel’s
Rose Bud, and 2nd Best AVSA Small Collection-Jersey
Lilacs, Jolly Splashy, and Shy Blue.
Barbara Kelly won Best Species – S. ionantha subsp.
Ionantha var. ionantha, and Horticulture Sweepstakes.
Sylvia Leeds won Best Design and Design Sweepstakes.
Joan Santino, President of Mid-Atlantic AVS,
is gathering names of those who would be
available to assist in Nashville as a host/hostess
in the Showroom. Please contact Joan via
email at [email protected] to set up a time.
March / April 2014 LSAVC Newsletter Volume XXIX, No. 2
- 4 -
Why You Should Love Streps
By David Gregg (Photos by David Gregg)
http://cubits.org/Strepbystrep/
There are many reasons for loving Streps. Their flowers
come in an array of colors, color combinations, patterns
and fantasy markings. The flowers are proudly
displayed above the foliage and elegant. Some wavy,
some very frilly, others with ruffles and some with
unusual blooms that resemble an orchid or butterfly.
However, there are other practical reasons to love
Streps and give them a try.
Here are my top 7 reasons;
1. They are tough. Experience is a great teacher.
However, many have been able to grow Streps
successfully even when they have had little to no luck
growing African
Violets. There's a
reason why AV
growers refer to
Streps as "weeds."
That's because
these plants really
do grow like the
real deal when you
understand and
provide their
needs. You don't
need a "green
thumb" to grow these beautiful flowering plants.
2. They grow under natural or artificial light. Personally
I have grown them under both and the plants don't seem
to care. Any window will do, even a northern exposure,
however, they must not be in direct sun. Bright indirect
light is sufficient to get lovely blooms. Not sure if
you’re getting enough
light? Take your hand
and place it about one
foot above the plant.
Now move your hand
back and forth, if you see
a distinct shadow on the
plant, you have enough
light for these beauties.
Growing under artificial
lights? See Helpful Tips
for growing in the new
section of the website for
advice.
3. Ease of grooming. Since Streps develop multiple
crowns, there's
no need to
remove suckers
in general. There
are exceptions,
particu larly in
some Polish and
Ukrainian
varieties where
too many crowns
develop at one
time on the plant.
In these cases,
keep only 1
additional crown. If allowed to develop, the additional
crowns will crowd out the center or each other. DS-
Mysticism is one that is notorious for this habit. Have
a leaf too big? How about a discolored leaf? Just trim
the leaf to any shape and the desired length with sharp
scissors.
4. Flowers, Flowers, Flowers. Unlike their cousin the
African Violet, which usually produces only one
bloom stalk per leaf axis, Streps will produce between
6-7 bloom stalks in succession from each leaf. A
mature plant with many healthy leaves can produce
lots of blooms. Mature plant's flower stalks can
produce from 2-6 flowers. On average most varieties
will have 2-3, however, there are some which produce
even more!
5. Ease of propagation. There are two methods of
propagation, the
AV method and the
mid-rib method.
The most popular is
the mid-rib method.
This is done by
taking a section of
leaf, preferably 2-
3" in length. Cut
along the rib going
through the center
of the leaf using a
sharp knife to
reduce the chances
of bruising the leaf. Now pre-moisten your mix so it is
damp not wet. make a small ditch the length of your
leaf and insert the cut end into the ditch and spread
your mix around the leaf and firm the soil around your
leaf. Dome or bag your pot and keep out of direct sun.
The biggest danger to the leaf rotting is keeping the
mix too wet.
March / April 2014 LSAVC Newsletter Volume XXIX, No. 2
- 5 -
The AV method involves cutting the stem back to about
11/2." Cut the end of the stem on an angle and then cut
the top of the leaf. This helps put the leaf's energy into
growing roots and babies once the leaf roots. This
method will produce fewer babies for those who do not
want more than a few. On average you will get 3-4
babies from a leaf planted this way.
6. Fewer pest problems.
Streps are susceptible to
the same pests as AV's -
mites, thrips, etc. Mealy
bugs tend to be the most
likely problem, but in
general they are less
likely to attract mites or
thrips.
7. They are spectacular.
What is more spectacular
than a mature plant in full
bloom? These plants
mature quicker than AV's
which means...faster to
bloom! Most Streps will
begin blooming in 4 - 6
months. There are
exceptions depending on
variety, culture and
environment. Could be sooner or could be a little later
than the general time frame.
Now how can you not love having "weeds" in your
indoor garden now?
Dave
Streptocarpus ‘Raydar’s Tensie’, First Austin AVS,
shown by Penny Smith-Kerker (Photo by M. Bullard)
Judging School
Houston, Texas Hosted by Spring Branch AVC
The Spring Branch African Violet Club will host a
judging school on Saturday, May 3, 2014, at
Copperfield Church, 8350 Highway 6, North Houston,
TX 77095.
Meredith Hall will be the teacher. Start time is 9 a.m.
For those taking the test, three blue ribbons with
attached entry tags signed by the show or judges'
chairman must be presented to the teacher. Or the
AVSA computer generated check-out sheet listing
awards won, signed by the show or judges chairman,
will be accepted. Two blue ribbons must have been
won in the horticulture division, a third blue ribbon
may have been won in design or "other gesneriad"
classes. These ribbons must have been earned between
the previous examination and the one to be taken.
You are also required to bring proof of AVSA
membership and are reminded to bring a current judges
handbook.
Fees and deadlines still to be determined.
If you have questions, you may contact Elaine Click
Streptocarpus ‘Teleri’ – Best Strep, Denton 2014
won by Richard Nicholas (photo by Jeff Hubbard)
March / April 2014 LSAVC Newsletter Volume XXIX, No. 2
- 6 -
Show, longtime Austin club member celebrate
50 years of African violets
By Carolyn Lindell - Special to the American-Statesman
Reprinted with photos from March 16 2014 Austin Statesman
As she has for 50 years, Dolores Gibbs will be eagerly
on hand when the First Austin African Violet Society
gets together this month. Gibbs is the last original
member of the society, which is celebrating its jubilee year.
The group will mark the occasion this weekend at its
45th annual Judged Show and Sale at the Austin Area
Garden Center at Zilker Botanical Garden. The event,
titled “Golden Jubilee – 50 Years of Violets,” is
expected to have more than 200 entries in the judged show, in a range of categories.
African violets like this Streptocarpus “Bristol’s Luv It”
come in more colors than just purple.
“There’s so much more than what you see at Home
Depot, as far as variety and leaf sizes and color. I’m just
always sort of fascinated by the different ways they
look,” said Susan Kautz, president of the society. “It’s
not just African violets; we grow other gesneriads.”
Kautz encourages visitors to attend, and enthusiasts
who want to get more involved would be welcomed into
the society, where long-time members, such as Gibbs, can mentor newcomers.
Gibbs, who turns 85 this month, recalls being a young
35-year-old wife and mother, when she learned of the
newly forming group back in 1964.
“I was there when they organized,” said Gibbs, who
still drives to Austin meetings from her San Marcos
home. “At that point in time, the African violet was
everything,” she said, referring to the popularity of the plant then.
The African violet was discovered in 1892 in
Tanzania, according to “African Violets” by Tony
Clements. Through various methods to create new
varieties, “the 1960s and 1970s saw the beginning of
an explosion in the numbers of new African violets,” the book said.
The woman who started the Austin group, referred to
in news articles of the time by her husband’s name,
“Mrs. Ira D. Stockebrand,” owned the Twin Oaks
cafeteria, Gibbs said, and the first meetings were at the South Austin eatery.
Initially, Gibbs said, she was shy as a new member of the group.
“I was so quiet; I was afraid to say anything,” she said.
Eventually she took on leadership roles and led the
group as president in 1989 and 1990, remaining active ever since.
“I still grow and show,” said Gibbs, who also still
mows her lawn and washes her car. Gibbs also attends the annual national convention of the African Violet
March / April 2014 LSAVC Newsletter Volume XXIX, No. 2
- 7 -
Society of America. (The Austin society is an affiliate
of the African Violet Society of America and the Lone
Star African Violet Council.) This spring, the
convention will be in Nashville; last year it was in
Austin.
Initially, the First Austin African Violet Society had
about 35 members, men and women, though that
number has dwindled to fewer than 20 now, she said.
Gibbs attributes that decline to the busy lives and careers of younger people these days.
To accommodate working people, the society now has
a monthly Saturday meeting in Round Rock as well as
its long-standing monthly Wednesday meeting in
Austin. The meetings have programs, and sometimes
members go to workshops or on field trips, Gibbs said, such as visiting a nursery in Boerne.
Gibbs first grew interested in plants while growing up
on a farm in South Dakota. Gibbs took care of the
family garden, and her mother also loved to grow
plants. But Gibbs’s thumbs weren’t always green when
it came to African violets.
“I would talk (my mother) out of one, take it to Texas
and kill it,” she said. But over time, Gibbs acquired
plants that were acclimated to Texas weather and she’s
had better luck with them. In her heyday, she put lots of energy into growing all kinds of things.
“I used to stay up to two or three in the morning working on plants,” Gibbs said.
Along the way, Gibbs has gone through the long
process, roughly 25 years, to become a master judge at shows.
Over the years, she also has accrued many winning
ribbons for entries in shows.
“I have boxes of them,” Gibbs said. “Now I give them
back to the club. We recycle them.” However, she still keeps any red-white-and-blue ribbons for Best in Show.
The back of her home has a garden room, filled with all
kinds of plants, including orchids and poinsettias. And of course, many shelves display her African violets.
Kautz said Gibbs makes a big contribution to the society with her experience and expertise
“She has so much knowledge about everything. She’s a
design guru,” Kautz said. “And she’s always willing to share it with everybody.”
Additionally, Kautz said, many groups devoted to African violets have disbanded over the years.
“I would say it’s fairly unusual that our club is 50 years old,” Kautz said.
Gibbs said she enjoys the society after so many
decades because of the wonderful friendships she made along the way.
“Mostly it’s the people you get to know because of the
plant,” said Gibbs, adding that they all share an
enthusiasm for the pretty African violets. “They are beautiful,” she said.
Information: www.faavs.org
Sinningia ‘Bright Eyes’ x concinna – Best Gesneriad,
FAAVS 2014. Won by Dolores Gibbs. (Photo by M.
Bullard)
Edwards Aquifer –
Best Dish Garden,
AVSA 2012
Won by
Dolores Gibbs (Photo by M. Bullard)
March / April 2014 LSAVC Newsletter Volume XXIX, No. 2
- 8 -
Frosty Frolic – Best in Show, Dallas Metro Clubs 2014
won by Meredith Hall (photo by Alcie Maxwell)
Jolly Butterfly
Best Pittman
Hybrid, Best
Texas Hybrid -
Spring Branch
AVS 2014 –
Won by
Jane Rexilius.
(photo by
M. Bullard)
Jolly Bambino – Best Mini and 2nd Best in Show, Dallas
Metro 2014. Won by Hortense Pittman. (photo by Alcie
Maxwell)
Lyon’s Red Rocket, BIS, First Denton AVS
won by Richard Nicholas. Photo by Jeff Hubbard.
Rebel’s Rose Bud – Dallas Metro 2014, Paula Foster
Award, won by Mary Corondan. (Photo by Alcie Maxwell).
Cool Blue – Best Semimini, Best Texas AV, and 2nd Best
in Show – Austin, 2014. Won by JoAnne Rogers. (photo
by M. Bullard)
March / April 2014 LSAVC Newsletter Volume XXIX, No. 2
- 10 -
LSAVC Editors 313 Plantation Oak Avenue Lake Dallas TX 75065-2206
TO:
FIRST CLASS
AVSA Convention
May 25 - June 1, 2014
Nashville Tennessee
LSAVC Convention
Oct 30-Nov 1, 2014
Dallas, Texas
Episcia ‘Coco’ – Best Gesneriad, Dallas Metro 2014
Won by Meredith Hall. (photo by Alcie Maxwell)
Sunlit Sugar Plum – Best Vintage Austin 2014
Won by Susan Kautz. (photo by M. Bullard)