Brisbane, QLD


Friday, February 11, 2011

SUCCESS AT LAST

For ages I have tried to grow African Violets without success. My friends kept giving them to me and I kept killing them but for some reason this year I have had success.



The Begonias have also flourished this year, the plants are old, I just cut them back when they stop flowering and then they come back again the next year. I love these sort of plants.
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23 comments:

  1. Begonias are certainly most rewarding. I also like to grow them as they are easy, unfussy plants and have such a long flowering period.

    Your African violet is a real beauty! So glad you've finally had success :)

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  2. Perhaps as a small consolation for all the terrible what you have been through. It would show that there is always hope!
    Elisabeth

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  3. Congratulations Diane. You have most certainly been rewarded for your persistence. Beautiful!

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  4. What a great burst of colour - I cannot wait until my garden is in colour again. x

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  5. when I first saw afrikan violets, i thought the plants were fake!

    Love the begonias - how stunning.

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  6. I've never been able to get those to grow but for the bulk of my life, I have lived in Arizona. I think it's just too dry here. I wonder if they would grow with a humidifier in the house. That I don't have. Oh well. Too late in life to start now. Or something like that. :)

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  7. maybe because of the tons of water ? I never take care of my plants and I don't know why, but I have a real jungle ! The once inside I water but I have never changed the compost the last plant is 41 year old !

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  8. I'm glad that after all the terrible weather you've had in Queensland you have some beautiful flowers in your house and garden. Both your begonias and African violets are beautiful.

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  9. Congratulations on your green thumb! Beautiful violet and the begonias as well (we grew them in Oregon and love them).

    Your new header shot is mesmerizing! Just beautiful.

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  10. I have an African violet in the house but sadly I can't get it to flower. I have no green fingers at all!

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  11. Beautiful, Diane. My mother used to grow African Violets --and she always said that they needed the PERFECT window in order to thrive. Yours are gorgeous!!!

    Love the begonias also... I have them here and they do well.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  12. Hi Diane, the African violets looks so healthy and beautiful. They are such coveted plants for indoors. I love the begonias too. They are beautiful and easy to keep.
    Many years back I had two windowsills with pots of AV in different colours. They thrived for a few years, then suddenly they got sick and I got sick too... of them! I still love them from afar. Have a lovely weekend. T.

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  13. African violets!!!
    Well Diane you will have to tell me your secret! I buy some every year for my patio pots, and they just promptly DIE!
    Maybe they don't like my yellow attire???
    Cheers
    Colin (HB)

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  14. Yes, I agree Diane... what is your secret? The African Violets are so healthy!

    Begonias are pretty too ... very tough I find - which is fortunate because they are left to fend for themselves at my place ;-)

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  15. I think Betsy's mom is right. You need the right window ledge or shelf. Mine are on a plant shelf on my deck in the shade but bright light. I have them in a deep plastic container that I put water into the container and when it evaporates you put more in the tray not in the earth.
    Thanks to my friend helen who taught me this.

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  16. The violets are beautiful!
    My MIL could grow these as well. I never had much success.
    Love the begonias - especially that second shot. It is soft and has a lovely bokeh background.

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  17. Diane, those begonias are gorgeous. I love that color.

    Your African Violets are so pretty. I have tried many times to grow them but all they did was die.

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  18. Have never tied African violets. My begonias never look wondrous like that ... they were doing well but we have had a spurt of fierce heat and I am not good at getting out in the garden and watering so now they are all flopping to the ground.

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  19. Beautiful blooms in these shots! So nice to look at when the weather is so very cold and dreary as we have here...

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  20. I've had luck with African Violets on and off over the years. They are so beautiful when they bloom. Mine do well on my kitchen windowsill.
    Your Begonias are magnificent, Diane!

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  21. I am not good in plants at all, so I think it is great you're doing so well with it.

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  22. Gorgeous flowers, you certainly have a green thumb. Great pics.
    Hugs,
    Jan

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  23. Beautiful! Unfortunately I have no green thumb and have killed my share of African Violets. Congratulations on your success!
    ☼ Sunny

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