BIO - AMY

I was born in London, Ontario and was transported to a small town named Simcoe, just north of Lake Erie. During an uneventful childhood, I was expected to help my parents and the rest of my family in any way I could.

I well remember beautiful evenings when, as a family, including my grandfather, we all sat on the verandah, hulling strawberries, which my mother and I made into strawberry jam, using only lemon and sugar for the process.

In the summer we maintained a very large garden, which was mostly my responsibility, so that in the winter we could partake of hundreds of jars of preserved goodies--from tomatoes and tomato products to cherries.

After moving to the U.S., I decided to get all the knowledge I could about growing things. I have taken most of the courses available in horticulture, including soil analysis and chemistry, physics, genetics, greenhouse management, plant nutrition, diseases and pests, irrigations and fertilizers meteorology and environmental studies, orchard management and viticulture--and all the attendant courses, such as plant, shrub and tree I.D. ugh!

When I was very young I propagated AV's for a commercial grower--did nothing but set down leaves, plant babies and when they reached a suitable age, off hey went to the greenhouse. Now that I have returned to my very favorite hobby, I am happy as a clam--and I am having such fun experimenting and trying new things.

Best of all are the wonderful friendships I am gaining here on this list. It is so nice to have people to talk to who have the same interest as I do. Friendship is our most valuable asset, I think.

I have one husband, one champion cocker spaniel and 3 children and many grandkids--but that would take a book to tell about.

BIO - BEV

Beverly Johnson

Yahoo ID mrswoney

email: sweety@bellsouth.net

11-08-1962

Horn Lake MS USA

My name is Bev, I'm 40, married, a housewife with only a Pomeranian, furkid, to chase, and we live just south of Memphis in Horn Lake, Mississippi. I've just begin to care for AV's this summer (2003). My mother kept them for years when I was growing up and was much admired for her success, and this perpetuated my impression of them being difficult and mysterious, almost magical. I thought I had a black thumb, but recently I decided to try them myself and found that they're not so fragile as I thought, although the sight of one in spectacular health and bloom is still amazing.

I've been delighted to find that I belong to the "bought my first AV at Wal-Mart" club. There is just something so appealing about that tattered little plant on the clearance shelf, needing a home and some TLC.

Here's my setup so far...I keep my pots on the kitchen table, snuggled up between the three sections of a bay window that faces east, northeast, and southeast, with mini-blinds adjusted for direct light only in the morning, and they seem to love it (they get indirect but bright light the rest of the day, and I'll adjust the blinds as the seasons change). I'm planning on putting up glass shelves soon, and adding supplementary lighting if necessary during the winter. There are several more varieties I will add in the coming months so I should have quite a colorful kitchen. My little Wal-Mart baby is absolutely gorgeous now, blooming like crazy and sprouting healthy new leaves in its new pot and fresh potting mix. It is such a pleasure to see something perform so well for your efforts.

I owe virtually all my newfound success to the online community, and I'd like to thank everyone who has posted information and images on the 'net. I'm extremely shy but I'm beginning to believe that sharing AV's will be a great way to make new friends; what else can I do with all those future babies and leaves but give them away? :)

BIO - KRISTINA

I am a 30 year old home maker. I have two children. One girl that is 4 and one boy who is 9. I have been seriously collecting African violets since February of this year. I just completed a move from Missouri to the Los Angeles California area.

BIO- MARGIE

My name is Margie Hubbard and I currently live in Dallas, Texas. For such a big city there are, strangely, no vendors in the area that carry named violets. So, I get my plants via mail order. I am really starting to be obsessed with streptocarpus plants these days, too!

I work for a major luxury retailer and have worked there for the last 18 years. My job is to manage the credit division which consists of about 50 people who work on our credit card related issues.

I'm about to be 41 and have no children. I do have a miniature dachshund named Roger Staubach, AKA Roger, The Wondrous Weenie Dog. Helen, the 75 lb. 14 year old mutt still has the face that could launch a thousand ships. We can't forget Doak, another big mutt that lives to play with our cats; Robbie Knevil, Ernestine, Doxie and Bunny. My husband is a lawyer who works out of our house. He's my greatest guy!

My major goal is to be able to retire to the country and get out of the corporate rat race. Life is too short to spend it in traffic!

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