Customer Reviews (1)

For the African Violet Affictionado--
Finally someone has written a book to help AV enthusiasists with the design side of African violet Expositions.Author Ruth Joy McCoy with her illustrator-daughter Bjo Trimble have approached this task with humour and love.This 10 1/2" X 9" paperback makes the artistic side of exhibiting African violets interesting and enjoyable.Ms McCoy slides from techniques of drying African violet flowers to showing how line material sets up the whole basis of a flower or plant design.Here you will learn differences in planting a terrarium and a dish garden and how to use rocks and other accessories to enhance your design.This book is excellent for both exhibitors and for those interested in home decoration with African violets and other plants.Recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Saintpaulias - more popularly known by their common name of African violets - are a genus of 12 species of tender evergreen perennials, only one of which is in general cultivation. Increasingly popular with amateur growers, as the range of colours available continues to expand, saintpaulias are becoming more and more in evidence at horticultural shows. This illustrated guide covers all aspects of their growing and propagation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

for those who love african violets
At one time african violets were the most popular blooming houseplant.* This book details the many different violets and how to take care of them.
The book is a little outdated - there are _lots_ more african violets, even in yellow, than when this book came out. There are many more options in how to outfit an area for the plants to grow in - mostly due to nore technology and the huge chain hardware stores available. But the basics of plant care does not change, whether it's 1958 or 2003 and this book delivers the basic in a clear concise manner so that it makes it very hard to fail with these beautiful plants.
I willwarn you, once you acquire one african violet, you will want more - it's like popcorn, one is not enough. But if you desire to travel down that path, this book is a good companion to help you take care of your plants well. I recommend it highly.

*The current most popular blooming houseplant is orchids, but really, the are a _ton_ of trouble and have a relatively short blooming period compared to african violets, which bloom almost continuously. Just "dipping my spoon in."

Carolyn K. Rector'sAfrican Violets
This book has lead me down the path of greatness with African Violets.I have always grown African Violets with good rewards becouse my grand mother always told me all her little tricks of growing them.Now with all the tricks that I learned by reading Carolyn Rector's book "How to grow African Violets" I have just gone wild.Example before reading this book I would start 6-10 cuttings and I was lucky to get 3 to live but now I have about 5-8 to live.All my friends have African Violets now as well.The book it's self is very easy to read and understand, there are several options given on how to do cuttings, repotting, feedings, soils, etc...It gives the beginner a good start and the pro good new ideals.All in all I must say thank you to Carolyn Rector for her book and to Patsy Kelley for giving it to me. ... Read more

Product Description
African Violets: Gifts from Nature-The SeriesBook OneIn 1892 while on an evening stroll with his fiancée in East Africa, Baron Walter von Saint Paul discovered an unusual plant with delicate purple flowers growing along a stream on his plantation. Legend has it that he picked a bouquet and presented it to his fiancée, staring the world's love affair with the African violet. Today, this plant is indeed the most popular indoor flowering plant grown by gardeners and plant enthusiasts around the world. Whether your goal is to enjoy beautifully flowering African violets in your home, to become an expert grower of these lovely plants, or to develop a deeper understanding of how the plants function, a series of three books are being written to meet your needs. The Series provides you with an authoritative guide, taking you through all the steps necessary for growing elegant African violets and at the same time explaining to you the secrets of why the plants respond to the various growing practices used daily in their care.When writing about African violets, Melvin J. Robey's expertise, pragmatism, humor and love of the subject are clearly evident. The reader will find down-to-earth, up-to-date information in this first of three books in The Series of African Violets: Gifts from Nature.Your African violets won't flower? In this book eight common problems are explored, exposing the secrets to having plants whose crowning glory of blossoms tells everyone you are the superhero of the African violet world. You will also enjoy 44 dazzling color photographs and illustrations, along with several black and white illustrations. A unique chapter on the history of the African violet plant allows the reader to explore the fascinating story of how this spectacular houseplant has captured the imagination of plant-olgists worldwide. For more information on African Violets: Gifts from Nature--The Series visit www.africanvioletbooks.com. ... Read more

Product Description
When you suspect you have a pest or disease in your plant room you need to know what to do about it and fast! This volume was written with that in mind. All pests, insects and diseases of the African violet and how to treat them are included. ... Read more