tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43371858272730111812026-01-09T10:30:33.778-05:00Washington, DC area gesneriad growers - the blog of the National Capital Area Chapter of The Gesneriad SocietyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger291125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-31709475689817481122021-04-14T18:50:00.000-04:002021-04-14T18:50:27.529-04:00

 

Petal Toneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03104650819603330396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-77792067680242636612013-02-05T13:25:00.000-05:002013-02-05T13:25:00.956-05:00

When we started this blog, it was an online space for our newsletter, Petal Tones. Since then, it's developed into its own thing so we're renaming it and moving to: http://dcgesneriads.blogspot.com/  We hope you will follow us there! Petal Tones will continue as the official newsletter of the National Capital Area Chapter of The Gesneriad Society, distributed in PDF form and posted on our

DCgesneriadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06914386841488776873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-59185026694231523492012-11-07T09:10:00.000-05:002012-11-07T09:10:00.536-05:00

The Mid Atlantic African Violet Society is holding its annual show and sale from November 8-10, 2012, in Richmond, Virginia. Location: Sheraton Richmond Park South Hotel, 9901 Midlothian Turnpike, Richmond, VA Show: Friday, November 9th, 2012 from 1:00 to 5:00; Saturday, November 10th, from 9:00 to 4:00. Sales: Thursday, November 8th, 2012, from 3:00 to 5:00; Friday, November 9th, from 9:00 to

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-21917595678281680662012-10-27T07:45:00.000-04:002012-10-27T07:45:00.434-04:00

Another gesneriad that summers well in the garden is Seemannia.  These are photos by John Boggan of some Seemannia hybrids growing in his garden in Washington, D.C. These are John's newest creations: complex hybrids involving Seemannia nematanthodes 'Evita', Seemannia purpurascens 'Purple Prince' and Seemannia gymnostoma. John is testing them for use as bedding plants, and hoping for

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-18404927326530398362012-10-23T23:20:00.000-04:002012-10-23T23:20:00.501-04:00

Back in June during the garden club event at Behnke's, I met Doug Bolt, a retired USDA scientist who researched animal reproduction. He told me about how he has used Streptocarpus 'Falling Stars' and Ludisia discolor (an orchid) as bedding plants. (Note: they are not hardy in the DC area, and do need to come indoors for the winter.) They had a rough time with the especially high temperatures

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-21328701160287121232012-10-09T21:50:00.004-04:002012-10-09T21:50:34.211-04:00

The National Capital Area Chapter will be holding its next meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 13, 2012, at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. The topic this month is reclassification of the genus Chirita. All species formerly known as Chirita have new genus names, such as Primulina, Microchirita, and Henckelia. Where can you find out the new names? The World Checklist of

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-92044678179764787152012-09-30T21:45:00.000-04:002012-09-30T21:45:04.676-04:00

We saw them in Seattle, and now in Delaware: Gasteranthus species. You may have wondered about the big glass "jars" in yesterday's photo -- the plants with yellow flowers. That collection of Gasteranthus species was awarded Best Gesneriad in Show at the Mid Atlantic Regional. Exhibited by Nancy Kast, the judges' comments included "wow" and "incredible" -- these are beautifully grown and

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-59415334101472458682012-09-29T22:55:00.002-04:002012-09-29T22:55:22.829-04:00

Day One of the Mid Atlantic Regional Gesneriad Show, Sale and Symposium was all about the Show. In the morning, exhibitors arrived and submitted their entries into the Show.  Each entry was placed in the correct Class in accordance with the show schedule.  In the afternoon, teams of judges reviewed each entry -- scoring, commenting, and awarding as appropriate. This Show includes some

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-83508886725417772022012-09-29T11:17:00.001-04:002012-09-29T11:17:01.026-04:00

We're here finishing setting up the first-ever Mid-Atlantic Region Gesneriad Show, Sale, and Symposium. The show, sale, and symposium are open to the public tomorrow--check here for schedule and details. "It looks like it's going to be an awesome show." --overheard from the entries table

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-54943838372481098632012-09-26T20:00:00.000-04:002012-09-26T20:00:21.318-04:00

The first ever Mid-Atlantic Regional Gesneriad Show, Sale & Symposium will take place this weekend in Newark, Delaware.  On Sunday, September 30, 2012, the event is open to the public: entrance to the show and sale are free, but registration is required for the two lectures.  The event is jointly sponsored by the Delaware African Violet and Gesneriad Society, the National Capital

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-65432001843672915832012-09-05T06:10:00.000-04:002012-09-05T06:10:00.825-04:00

I've posted this photo before, and I'm posting it again because this was such a wonderful exhibit. This is the educational entry by Irene Sobotincic at the 2011 Convention. At least, this is part of it - I didn't get a photo of the accompanying text. This case contains Sinningia muscicola, pusilla 'White Sprite', pusilla, concinna, 'Star Eyes', 'Bright Eyes', 'Little Wood Nymph' and 'Little Tiger

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-18809478630200028172012-09-03T21:20:00.000-04:002012-09-04T19:38:02.494-04:00

Addendum: Digging back through my incomplete records, I believe these are F3 (or F4) from seeds obtained in circa 2003 from a plant shared via the National Capital Area Chapter (probably by John B.). All the flowers I've seen from this line up until these few have been pale pink/lavender. However, it seems pale/almost-white flowers are not that unusual, and Kartuz lists S. muscicola with a

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-66871504383857671202012-08-26T20:45:00.000-04:002012-08-26T20:46:06.763-04:00

Upcoming deadlines for the first ever Mid Atlantic Regional Gesneriad Show: September 1, 2012 Deadline to register at discounted rates. September 1, 2012 Deadline to reserve space in the Show in Classes 50 through 61 (= Sections K-M, arrangements of cut and growing plants) and class 70 (Section O - Artistic Entry by a Novice suitable for any of the classes in Sections K, L or M). Email your

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-87301561882890370462012-08-23T22:15:00.000-04:002012-08-23T22:15:00.400-04:00

I am pleased to share with you some photographs from the Southport Flower Show which took place on August 16-19, 2012, in Southport (inbetween Blackpool and Liverpool) in the U.K. These were taken by Kevin Pratt and posted on Twitter - he agreed to let me share them here as well.  The award indications are apparently for the amateur category.  (These results are online and it's quite

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-36118567976163022522012-08-13T18:41:00.002-04:002012-08-13T18:43:28.373-04:00

Sinningia sellovii growing in a community garden plot in Washington DC. For scale, the pots around the tuber, which is planted in the ground, are sized between 2 and 4 inches. The new growths are much sturdier (shorter internode length, greener, stubbier leaves) than the single stem that came on the tuber when it was planted. The original stem flopped onto the ground, it bloomed (see

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-50055997610349918412012-07-27T09:50:00.000-04:002012-07-27T09:50:00.955-04:00

After posting at the 10 week mark, I finally started focusing on what I might have to show. The Streptocarpus I had as a candidate is pretty much out of the running: So, I started to think out loud. On Twitter. It went something like this: Me: How long for Kohlerias from sprout to full bloom? Should I even bother for Sept 29 target date? Peter Shalit: +/-12 weeks, depending on rhizome

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-7983847696860043602012-07-24T00:50:00.000-04:002012-07-24T00:50:00.634-04:00

[Note: This is a local interest post unrelated to gesneriads. LOTS of links and photos below.] If I needed a reminder, I got one. In the form of GIANT RED pitcher sculptures in front of the U.S. Botanic Garden. I started writing this post months ago, but it sat in draft form while I gradually added information.  It's now a very long post, hence the "Note" up top. What we -- gesneriad

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-36585459220959610032012-07-21T06:10:00.000-04:002012-07-21T06:10:00.332-04:00

It's now 10 weeks until the Mid Atlantic Regional Show.  Exhibitors/attendees who need overnight accommodations should make arrangements as soon as possible. Don't forget to register for the event, and mark your calendar with the September 1, 2012 deadline for reserving spots in the artistic classes.  The registration form and show schedule are contained in the brochure (PDF), and the

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-12183511647966085062012-07-06T08:46:00.000-04:002012-07-06T17:51:37.909-04:00

I vacationed in San Francisco during the last week of June. Of course, it was beautiful weather, low cloud cover notwithstanding. Even better was that half of my vacation involved touring the wealth of public gardens in the area. I know that the DC area is pretty darn competitive when it comes to amazing gardens, but it's still hard to come back to the east when there are still so many plants I

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-56822920852500534702012-07-03T13:53:00.000-04:002012-07-05T08:09:36.546-04:00

I was convinced to stick a few Sinningia tubers in my community garden plot. It didn't take too much convincing, to be honest. Tons of sun, quickly drying, and plenty of heat. Some Sinningia can take it--others are more of a test. It's all a test for me--I've never grown gesneriads outside (or tomatoes or corn, for that matter: It's my first real garden plot!). The other day, I noticed S.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-36447477932950174322012-06-27T06:10:00.000-04:002012-06-27T06:10:00.764-04:00

Not heading to Seattle?  Vicariously be there via the convention blog at http://gescon12.tumblr.com/. Festivities are July 3-7, 2012. Plan ahead for July next year in Toronto, and 2014 in Nashville. Details will be forthcoming on The Gesneriad Society's website. More locally, planning continues for the Mid Atlantic Regional Gesneriad Show in Delaware in September.  The National

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-84146236192448689622012-06-21T20:37:00.000-04:002012-07-06T17:55:00.197-04:00

I don't consider myself a gesneriad master in the slightest--I've been growing gesneriads for just a few years and have killed more than I've been successful with. In the past year or so, I've started getting into tuberous gesneriads, particularly Sinningia (particularly particularly the eensy teensy ones like S. pusilla). And although I've stumbled upon the Sinningia and Friends website on

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-19271240042930623712012-06-19T06:10:00.000-04:002012-06-19T06:10:00.569-04:00

A highlight of every Convention is the Gesneriad Hybridizers Association (GHA) meeting. This year's meeting is at 3:30 on July 4, 2012, and the speaker is Vivian Liu, the person behind the "An's..." hybrids. Those of you on Gesneriphiles have already seen the teasers posted by Dale Martens -- I asked her if I could share them here as well. There will be quite a variety of Sinningia, Kohlerias

DCgesneriadshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06914386841488776873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-80313791510154359232012-06-16T06:10:00.000-04:002012-06-16T06:10:00.772-04:00

Aeschynanthus 'Frostfire' - grown by Al and shown here in his greenhouse. It's been donated and in my possession for about another week :) I've seen it loaded with flowers, so this isn't its best.    I remember when this was a wee li'l cutting 2 or 3 years ago - Al has been kind enough to let me propagate the plant in his greenhouse. Now it's 4-hanging-pots big - and that's after

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337185827273011181.post-62758261531389726352012-06-07T06:10:00.000-04:002012-06-07T06:10:01.397-04:00

Last weekend, Ken Moore and I spent a day at Al's Orchid Greenhouse doing some gesneriad maintenance. (Al graciously lets me propagate some gesneriads at his greenhouse, as many members of the National Capital Area gesneriad society know.) We  potted up some of the Sinningia this time, like this piresiana which had been growing in a clay pot next to some succulents (Stapelia, Haworthia, etc)

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com