Birthday Mustangs

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A Teenager Speaks: (1977)

Violets Are For Everyone

Carol Ann Miderski

Several years back my parents started raising African Violets. At first it was just a hobby but it gradually grew into a small business. Originally I couldn't understand their enthusiasm over what I considered to be "JUST A BUNCH OF PLANTS." Slowly but surely it must have rubbed off on me because I began to enjoy working in the plant house. I grew to love watching the little green sprouts in the soil grow into big, healthy, blooming plants. As I gained interest I graduated from pot washer, to divider, to helper, to experimenter until finally I had a hand in just about everything. For instance, I have just recently tried my hand at hybridizing and I am eagerly waiting to see what kind of results I get. Now, at age 15, I think I love working with the violets as much as my parents do. I guess you could say they've grown on me.

I went to the St. Louis AVSA Convention with my mother and we attended many of the workshops. I also attended the judging school and took the test. I felt that even if I didn't pass, it would be a good experience. Well to my surprise I did pass. But that's not the point. The point is that violets are for everyone, young and old, male and female. The problem is that most people do not realize how wide and interesting the field of violet growing is. It encompasses much more than first meets the eye. With African Violets there is always something new to learn and something different to try. It allows you to use your imagination. I believe that if more young people are convinced that African Violets are fun because they are easy to gro, that I will see many more of my generation at the next convention.

November, 1977 AVM

AVM Magazines... 1977

I purchased the entire year of issues (5) of AVM from 1977 and they arrived yesterday. It's really interesting to go through them and see plants that are no longer available and hear the things that were important to them at the time. I've also discovered that I want, if at all possible!, to get The Redhead. It's a beautiful violet that should not be lost and I'm hoping that it hasn't been.

I also discovered yet another Richter violet that Candy doesn't have on her list. Jingle Bells has no information on it other than the name but it was on the 1977 Best Varieties list. I've written to her to let her know about it.

My Birthday

My boyfriend took me to Sand Wash Basin, Colorado to spend my birthday and the next day with wild Mustangs. We did it last year too and I'm hoping that this will be a yearly adventure for us. I'll post links to my photos soon.

Heh, Happy Birthday to me!

I just bought 3 vintage violets from ebay as a birthday present for me!

New Year's Eve
Berry Splash
Granger's Peach Frost

Simpler Times

Simpler Times, a photo by kenyapurrz4me on Flickr.

Well, here she is 5 days later. The blossoms are getting larger and more what I was expecting. The color is still more purple than I remembered but she's very lovely. Can't wait to see how much she changes in another few days!

Simpler Times?

Simpler Times?, a photo by kenyapurrz4me on Flickr.

This plant was in bloom when I purchased it but these blooms don't look like what they're supposed to be now. This photo without flash.

Via Flickr:
Simpler Times? This plant was in bloom when I purchased it but these blooms don't look like what they're supposed to be now. This photo without flash.

This photo is with the flash and shows the color better than without.


Again, with the flash.


And without the flash and a better view of the entire violet. It's rather unruly right now but it's taken me a little while to figure out what light it likes to even get it to bloom again. Maybe it still needs some more changes?