Maintenance isn't always pretty!

I just finished repotting every single African violet in the house!  :)  Two weeks ago, I repotted the geraniums, and other outdoor plants that I bring indoors for the winter.  Last week, I began on the violets.
They had been semi-loved all summer.... and only half of my heart just isn't what they wanted.
Don't tell anyone, but violets get jealous!  :)  At least, I have found they sulk when most of my attention is focused on something else! :)
Here are my keepers, the plants I want to keep for myself.  They were drastically groomed, and repotted in fresh soil.

I have agreed to teach a Houseplant class for the district's Adult Ed program, beginning in November. So, the past two weeks have seem me repotting, and rooting cuttings!  I have about 40 medium AVs, 12 medium misc houseplants, 18 smaller houseplant cuttings rooting (top left tray under the dome in the photo below), and about 40 smaller, extra AVs.  Over the three weeks of the class, I should have at least one night where everyone goes home with a free plant!  :)  In the tray, with dome, on top right of the first photo below, I have started AV and strep leaves... by the time we get to the propagation section of the class, they will be reliably rooted, and I will give a leaf to every class member... maybe more than one leaf, depending upon how many people attend.

I don't need much of an excuse to set more leaves, do I????
'THEY ARE FOR SOMEONE ELSE' is the best reason of all!!!!



'Things will be different this time...' by Laurie

... Oh, I hope not EVERYTHING will be different this time, Laurie In Maine!  You had such beautiful violets in the past; I hope THAT doesn't change!  And by the most recent photo on your blog, I would say you still have that 'violet thumb'!
       Here are a few photos I found of your violet stands in the past.  You had posted these photos on The Violet Voice group.

Laurie's December 2003 violets:



Another photo from May 2006:

These photos/plants are discussed in her Socks Have No Thumbs blog, which included interesting posts of her violets during those years.  She has continued the 'Sock's blog to talk about family, quilting and knitting, as well as beautiful photos! 



To see photos of her violets today, and to read all about the plants that arrived in her care August 14th, and which are now blooming on her shelf, visit her African violet blog:  Thou Shalt Not Kill {African Violets}.

I wish my violet shelves looked like hers................  :(

Grandmother's Halo (photo)

Just took a photo of Grandmother's Halo... How could a variety get to my 'Top Ten' List and I not have a photo of it????!!!!!!   Just a reminder that we TAKE LOVED ONES FOR GRANTED!!!

This plant is about 5 years old itself... and had been growing in an east window until a few weeks ago.  I trimmed off a row of older leaves and repotted it with fresh mix.  It is now under my lights.. awaiting  the upcoming houseplant class.