Hit a Gesnariad show on a whim; some flora and fauna (threw in a BoboCatylum shot)

[lmartiny]

I stopped at a small meeting/show near our house at a local community room. I'd read about it in a community paper. I've never been to one. Quite the varitey of african violets, but I liked the other types of gesnariads. Plus I've killed every african violet I've ever had. There were some really different plants with neat blooms. I figured, after all, I'm going have to start over with all the freeze loss. So I picked up a few. Some others on show were really neat. They say some would be for sale tomorrow. Hmmmmm.
Here is what I got. And a new pict. of Bobo the stinker for the heck of it. (I tried to come up with a clever name about the blue ball, but it wasn't coming out right )

I staked up the tall green one. (must be the orchid person in me) It is called Daymonia chirabogava (?) can't quite read that last part.

Fisherman's Paradise I'd have bought this just for the name; I love to fish. I read the tag later. I picked it for the foliage and double bloom.

Episcia Karlyn

Episcia Alice's Aussie. An interesting mix of pinkish leaves and orange blooms.





Not the best shot. He's always on the move, but Bobo loves his ball. Hubby is teaching him fetch. He is a real cat dog.

If others bloom, I'll be sure to post a pict.
It was fun. And hey, I didn't bring home an orchid. Right? Hubby teasingly gave me flak. But he's cool with it. And it wasn't costly.
I was showing him, and explaining the Episcia. He said "I'll take a piece a ya." Hehe.

[sunshine]

Great finds. Love the variegated leaves I have one African violet left that isn't doing so well

Bobo is so cute. He was my cat, now he's mom's cat. Shadow will play fetch. His favorites are plastic bottle caps and Q-tips. Shadow is around 14 or 15 from what mom and I could figure out and he was a pound kitty. His only goal now is to be a PITA and be on the wrong side of the door and torment mom with that cat independence attitude. He has claimed that chair as his and don't you dare sit in it.

[katrina]

OOOO...I really like the episcia!! I might have to search that one out. BTW -- Bobo is adorable!!

[LouisW]

Cool! Im trying to learn about Gasneriads a little, sparked by some wild ones I saw in Ecuador. As if I need more plants.

[lmartiny]

I looked back for this thread due to the recent talk of mounts. There were some interesting (?) floral displays at this show. Nothing like orchid displays. But there was one in particular that I thought was very cool and unlike most of them. It was a dish garden in a large terra cotta saucer with the back built up with soil(?) to accomodate a dwarf azalea. From there it sloped down toward the front, even with the lip of the saucer. It had small foxtail ferns, dwarf mondo grass, and of course, an african violet. Very clever. Very pretty. I've done some cacti and succulent dish gardens. Guess what I'm going to do next?
Sunshine; we had a white kitty; a short hair. I picked him up off the side of the road after an apparent (lucky) brush with a car. Fixed him up at the vet's and had him for several years. He was deaf it turned out. Green eyes, not blue. But did have some head trama. So not sure of the cause. But he was a talker nonetheless. He'd lay on hubby's guitar when he'd sit and strum. Liked the vibes I guess. Hubby was a musician then. (well, still plays) He named the cat Booker T after Booker T and the MG's. This was in the mid 80's.
Louis, I did OK with a couple of streptocarpus that sat in pots in the garden. Granted, they were a bit rough, but they bloomed, and survived. (until the freeze) Gloxinia is another common one. There does seem to be a preferred method based on what I saw at this show. They plant them with a wick and set the pot within a pot that has water. I know its not good to wet their leaves. They use a perlite/vermiculite mixture. The first plant I picked up had a white wick and I'm thinking it is a root coming out the bottom. Then I figured it out. (without asking and embarrassing myself)
I'd say give a few a try.

[-k-]

I really like the color of the Episcia Alice's Aussie.

Sounds like a fun time, one of the local nurseries by me does small classes every other month or so, find all sorts of cool plants and nice people!

Those mounts sound really neat... Would like to see your work with succulent dish garden, you still have them?

[lmartiny]

I do, but they have been beaten up by cold, had a knockover incident and a cat digging incident. They need a bit of work come warmer weather.

[-k-]

Originally Posted by lmartiny

I do, but they have been beaten up by cold, had a knockover incident and a cat digging incident. They need a bit of work come warmer weather.

Uh oh... I hope the cat digging wasn't followed up with well you know...
Once you get them cleaned up in the warmer weather I would realy like to see them!

[lmartiny]

I don't believe he did his business in there. Funny......
But he sits in them. I'm really looking forward to some yard and plant time when it decides to warm up.