April 13, 2014

A few photos from Delaware

The Delaware African Violet & Gesneriad Society  held its show and sale in Christiana, Delaware on April 12, 2014. Here are a few photos courtesy of Ken Moore. (You can see more in his Flickr set.)


Kohleria 'Jardin du Monet'

Petrocosmea rosettifolia

Streptocarpus 'Harlequin Lace'

Streptocarpus 'Iced Artistry'

April 7, 2014

African Violet show in Richmond, VA, April 11-13, 2014

The Richmond African Violet Society will be holding its 2014 Annual Show and Sale this weekend.

VIOLETS CELEBRATE GARDEN HERITAGE 
Friday April 11th – Sunday April 13th, 2014 

Sponsored by and held at:
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
1800 Lakeside Ave,
Richmond, Virginia

Admission to the show and sale is free. However there is an admission fee for visiting the garden. 

Show Hours
Saturday, April 12, 2014 – 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Sunday, April 13, 2014 – 9:00am to 5:00pm

Plant Sale Hours
Friday, April 11, 2014 are from 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Saturday, April 12, 2014 - 9:00am to 5:00pm
Sunday, April 13, 2014 – 9:00am – 5:00pm

March 6, 2014

DC area gesneriad meeting March 8, 2014

Although we had to cancel our Show and Sale due to winter weather impacting the participants, we will be holding a casual meeting on Saturday March 8, 2014, at 10:30 a.m., in the houseplant area of The Behnke Nurseries, 11300 Baltimore Ave, Beltsville, MD 20705 (on US-1, a couple of miles from I-495). There will be refreshments, and some of our experienced growers will be there. If you're curious and in the neighborhood, please do stop by.

Sinningia 'Prudence Risley'
Sinningia 'Prudence Risley', exhibited by Nancy Bruhns at the 2011 Convention of The Gesneriad Society

March 4, 2014

March 2014 Show Cancelled

(Are we ready for spring yet?)

The recent round of winter weather has impacted the participants in various ways, and regretfully we have decided to cancel the Show & Sale. (That includes the scheduled lectures.)

We'll have a regular meeting on Saturday April 12, 2014.  Details to come.

Update: We will have a small meeting on Saturday March 8, 2014 at 10:30 a.m., in the houseplant area of The Behnke Nurseries, 11300 Baltimore Ave, Beltsville, MD 20705 (on US-1, a couple of miles from I-495).

March 2, 2014

Sinningia speciosa

**UPDATE: March 2014 show - including David Zaitlin's lecture - is cancelled due to weather-related complications**

With David Zaitlin's lecture coming up (March 8, 2014, just outside of DC), I thought I would post some photos of Sinningia speciosa.

Here is one with Jim Robert's hand for size:
Sinningia speciosa

Sinningia speciosa 'Cabo Frio' from the 2009 Convention of The Gesneriad Society

Sinningia speciosa 'Cabo Frio'

One from our 2006 local show:
Sinningia speciosa

Sinningia speciosa 'Carangola', exhibited at the 2009 Convention:
Sinningia speciosa 'Carangola'

And of course, there are the staggering amazing speciosa examples from Charles Lawn's hybridizing efforts - see a few examples at The Gesneriad Reference Web.

February 26, 2014

Dave Zaitlin on Sinningia Species in Brazil

**UPDATE: March 2014 show - including David Zaitlin's lecture - is cancelled due to weather-related complications**

Guest speaker: Dave Zaitlin
Topic: Adventures in Paradise: Sinningia Species in Brazil 
When: Saturday, March 8, 2014 at 2 p.m. 
Where: The Behnke Nurseries, 11300 Baltimore Ave, Beltsville, MD 20705 (on US-1, a couple of miles from I-495).
Cost: free
We are very fortunate to be welcoming Dave Zaitlin as a speaker at The National Capital Area Chapter of The Gesneriad Society's Show & Sale.  He will be sharing with us slides from his trips to Brazil in November 2011 and February 2013, traveling through Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Espirito Santo states with Mauro Peixoto. His presentation will feature 14 Sinningia species, with a focus on the diverse forms of S. speciosa. Also included will be a special short presentation on another recent trip to an exotic gesneriad venue.

You may know of Sinningia speciosa by its former name, Gloxinia speciosa, or as Florist's Gloxinia, or simply Gloxinia. ("Gloxinia" still exists as a genus but the Florist's Gloxinia is not a Gloxinia any more.) You can read more about it at Sinningia & Friends, and see more photographs of varieties at the Gesneriad Reference Web.

Pink-Flowered 'Gloxinia' on a Ledge

Dave also sent along this "bonus" photograph, which has to do with the mystery short presentation he'll also be including - no caption so you will have to guess!






February 18, 2014

Entry Form for the DC Area Generiad Show 2014

**UPDATE: March 2014 show is cancelled due to weather-related complications**
 
The National Capital Area Chapter of The Gesneriad Society will be holding a Show on March 8-9, 2014, and anyone can enter a plant, terrarium, dish garden, artwork, etc. -- provided it meets the rules set forth in the Show Schedule (PDF). The Entry Form (PDF) should be submitted by email ahead of time if at all possible.

PLEASE READ THE RULES in the Show Schedule, which include requirements such as:
  • To enter a plant in the horticultural classes, you must have had the plant for at least 3 months prior to the show. 
  • Plants must be free of disease and pests. 
  • Entries must be brought to the show during the Entries time periods on Friday or Saturday March 7 and 8. 
  • Reservations for spots in certain design classes are due by March 1.  (See the Show Schedule.)
SUBMIT ENTRY FORMS EARLY
Entrants are encouraged to submit an Entry Form early by email. This will greatly help streamline the entries process on Friday and Saturday. (There is no commitment - you can delete entries on the day.) Details are on the Entry Form. If you have questions, shoot me an email at dcgesneriads at gmail dot com.

If you are submitting an entry that will need extra space such as an especially large plant or an educational exhibit, please note this in your entry form or your design reservation.

DOUBLE-CHECK SPELLING
If you’re not sure about the spelling of plant names, consult the Checklist. For hybrids, try the Register at The Gesneriad Society.

WHAT GOES IN WHICH CLASS?
If you’re not sure about which Class a plant should go in, put down your best guess on the Entry Form. Someone can help you determine the right class when you bring the entry in.

Tip for new entrants: check out Section J on the Show Schedule.

Need visual examples? You can see winners from past Conventions on The Gesneriad Society's website. A fairly comprehensive set of photos of plant entries from 2009 can be seen here. The local show is a smaller scale show so do NOT be intimidated by some of the fantastic plants at the Conventions.)

Columnea orientandina

February 4, 2014

Feb 8, 2014 meeting and March gesneriad show

**UPDATE: March 2014 show is cancelled due to weather-related complications**

NEXT MEETING

When: Saturday February 8, 2014, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Program begins at 10:30.
Topic: "Show Preparation - Cleaning your Plants for the Show & What the Judges are Looking For" by Jim Roberts.
Location: The Behnke Nurseries, 11300 Baltimore Ave, Beltsville, MD 20705 (on US-1, a couple of miles from I-495).

MARCH SHOW AND SALE

The National Capital Area Chapter of the Gesneriad Society will be having a show and sale on March 8-9.  Non-members may submit entries into the Show.  The Show Schedule, which describes the rules and the classes for entries, is available as a PDF here. Please note deadlines for reserving an entry in some categories. Any questions? Please send an email to dcgesneriads at gmail dot com. Both the Show and Sale will be open to the public and there are three lectures scheduled. (All free of charge.)

Show theme: "Gesneriads Go to the Movies"
When: Saturday March 8, 2014 from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., and on Sunday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: The Behnke Nurseries, 11300 Baltimore Ave, Beltsville, MD 20705 (on US-1, a couple of miles from I-495).

Lectures:
Saturday March 8, 2014 at 2 p.m.:  “Sinningia in Brazil” – Dave Zaitlin
Sunday March 9, 2014 at 10 a.m.: “What is a Gesneriad?” – Jim Roberts
Sunday March 9, 2014 at 1 p.m.: “Gesneriad Propagation” - Brian Connor

Exhibitors: Entries may be brought to the show room Friday, March 7 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. or on Saturday, March 8, 2014 between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

A photo from our 2008 show: