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.
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Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 3
November still offers good weather for fall planting:
* If you haven't already, it's time to clean up the remains of summer. Pull faded annuals and vegetables. Prune dead or broken branches from trees.
* Now is the best time to plant most trees and shrubs. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from fall and winter rains.
* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.
* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Keep planting bulbs to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.
* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.
* Rake and compost leaves, but dispose of any diseased plant material. For example, if peach and nectarine trees showed signs of leaf curl this year, clean up under trees and dispose of those leaves instead of composting.
* Save dry stalks and seedpods from poppies and coneflowers for fall bouquets and holiday decorating.
* For holiday blooms indoors, plant paperwhite narcissus bulbs now. Fill a shallow bowl or dish with 2 inches of rocks or pebbles. Place bulbs in the dish with the root end nestled in the rocks. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the bulbs. Place the dish in a sunny window. Add water as needed.
* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.
* For larger blooms, pinch off some camellia buds.
* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.
* To help prevent leaf curl, apply a copper fungicide spray to peach and nectarine trees after they lose their leaves this month. Leaf curl, which shows up in the spring, is caused by a fungus that winters as spores on the limbs and around the tree in fallen leaves. Sprays are most effective now.
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