Capital City African Violet Society hosts annual event
Hundreds of African violet plants are arrayed at the Shepard Garden and Arts Center during a previous show and sale by the Capital City African Violet Society. Debbie Arrington
Today’s African violets aren’t plain old purple. They come in a dazzling array of patterns, shapes and colors – making them a most collectible houseplant.
Build your African violet collection with just one stop at the annual Capital City African Violet Society sale at Shepard Garden and Arts Center in McKinley Park.
On Saturday, April 6, find hundreds of rare and unusual varieties, many not available at local nurseries. They’re priced to sell quickly; get there early for best selection. The sale is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or until all the plants are sold. Admission and parking are free.
In addition to the sale, the society is hosting a beautiful display of members’ prized African violets in their peak of bloom. In addition to violets, see their close gesneriad cousin, cape primroses. Some of these eye-catching varieties also may be offered in the sale.
There are many reasons African violets have endured as a favorite houseplant. They live a long time with little care – and they bloom indoors!
African violets aren’t violets but they did originate in Africa, discovered in the tropical rain forest of Tanzania in 1892 by Baron Walter Von Saint Paul. The species’ botanical name, Saintpaulia ionantha, honors the German baron’s family; ionantha means “violet like.”
This little plant became an international phenomenon. A year after its discovery, it was patented to a German seed company. In 1894, Harris Seeds introduced the African violet to America.
But it was Woolworth & Co. that gets credit for making the African violet a national sensation. In 1927, a Los Angeles plant breeder introduced the hybrids ‘Sailor Boy’ and ‘Blue Boy,’ the first mass-marketed houseplants. Woolworth’s sold them in their stores across the country – the first time a chain store had sold plants on such a large scale. Millions were sold.
Nearly a century later, love of these fuzzy, flower-filled plants continues to grow.
For violet newbies, Saturday’s event is always a wonderful spot to get advice. Society members can show how to repot an overgrown plant and other care tips to prompt more blooms.
The club also offers supplies for growing African violets and other flowering houseplants.
Shepard Center is located at 3330 McKinley Blvd., Sacramento.
Details and directions: www.sgaac.org.
Comments
0 comments have been posted.Sacramento Digs Gardening to your inbox.
Thanks to Our Sponsor!
Local News
Sites We Like
Garden Checklist for week of Jan. 19
Dress warmly in layers – and get to work:
* Apply horticultural oil to fruit trees to control scale, mites and aphids. Oils need 24 hours of dry weather after application to be effective.
* This is also the time to spray a copper-based oil to peach and nectarine trees to fight leaf curl. The safest effective fungicides available for backyard trees are copper soap -- aka copper octanoate -- or copper ammonium, a fixed copper fungicide. Apply either of these copper products with 1% horticultural oil to increase effectiveness.
* Prune, prune, prune. Now is the time to cut back most deciduous trees and shrubs. The exceptions are spring-flowering shrubs such as lilacs.
* Now is the time to prune fruit trees. Clean up leaves and debris around the trees to prevent the spread of disease. (The exceptions are apricot and cherry trees, which are susceptible to a fungus that causes dieback if pruned now. Save those until summer.)
* Prune roses, even if they’re still trying to bloom. Strip off any remaining leaves, so the bush will be able to put out new growth in early spring.
* Clean up leaves and debris around your newly pruned roses and shrubs. Put down fresh mulch or bark to keep roots cozy.
* When forced bulbs sprout, move them to a cool, bright window. Give them a quarter turn each day so the stems will grow straight.
* Browse through seed catalogs and start making plans for spring and summer.
* Divide daylilies, Shasta daisies and other perennials.
* Cut back and divide chrysanthemums.
* Plant bare-root roses, trees and shrubs.
* Transplant pansies, violas, calendulas, English daisies, snapdragons and fairy primroses.
* In the vegetable garden, plant fava beans, head lettuce, mustard, onion sets, radicchio and radishes.
* Plant bare-root asparagus and root divisions of rhubarb.
* In the bulb department, plant callas, anemones, ranunculus and gladioli for bloom from late spring into summer.
* Plant blooming azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons. If you’re shopping for these beautiful landscape plants, you can now find them in full flower at local nurseries.
Powered by California Local
