When I was a young child in the early 60's, I remember how much I loved going to my maternal Grandmother's house. She lived in a small mobile home in a small NH town. In her living room was a double window facing a small clearing. The rail road tracks were on the far edge of the clearing. I could hear the train coming for what seemed like a long ways away and would stand in that window, waving to the train.In front of her window was a low table. On that table was an amazing assortment of plants. I remember mostly African violets in every color and cacti in many species and colors. I can hear her telling my brother and I "don't touch the cactus, it will prick your finger!". Of course, we were so tempted and touched that cactus spike and did get a pricked finger :)
She had an incredible green thumb. She lovingly tended her plants and her home. Sadly, she passed away when I was just 12 but I have wonderful memories of her that I carry with me. One of them is our shared love of African violets (purple ones especially). I have many in my home. Some of them are over 20 years old. They continue to thrive and blossom, much to my amazement. No matter where I place them in any house I live in, they do well. I always have two or three that are blossoming at the same time all through the year. They add such color and brightness to my home. I like to think that's a part of her that lives on through me.
No cacti in my house - I don't do well with succulents of any kind. They always die......that and the fact I never did learn to keep my fingers away from the prickers :)
11 comments:
I understand. My paternal grandmother was the African violet person. Hers were always blooming, too. Unfortunately, I didn't do as well as you did. I don't have any violets.
We are cacti people here. We have over 20 of them!
I love African violets, my paternal grandmother has many of them in her house. I have tried to keep them but I always kill them so I stopped buying them. My grandmother would even come to my house to try to resurrect them but it didn't do any good. Yours are very pretty!
I have fond memories of my Grandma's African violets too...and the great aunts'. I do well with succulents but can't do violets. lol
Your violets are gorgeous!!
My Dad had a green thumb and he like African Violets, so they hold fond memories for me too. :-)
My paternal grandmother had such a green thumb as well and had many, many plants in her home. Your violets certainly look healthy and beautiful. You must take after her.
I'm jealous. I kill everything. No green thumb here. Oh how I wish I could grow something besides weeds.
My grandmother has quite a few African violets and has promised someday to give them to me. I was frightened at this because some of them are ones HER mother gave to her and with all that history it puts quite a weight on someone who has never had one before.
Well, I got an African violet two weeks ago that has beautiful purple and white flowers. I was calling it 'practice' but upon reading that you've had such success with yours than perhaps I will too!
Your flowers are beautiful! Both my Grandmother's loved plants. I still have some from each of them even though they passed on years ago. My paternal grandmother esp. had a knack for it, and even her cacti were these enormous creatures that glowed with health. Here at work we keep african violets. They love the flourescent lighting, and people really seem to enjoy them when they come in. (I still want an office cat, but that will be a cold day in you know where, so the plants'll do for now! ;-)
Tammy
My mother had a window sill full of African Violets and pampered them so much. I've never tried growing them...I figure I'd kill them. Beautiful plants you have.
I've got a few but I've had trouble with some kind of root/stem rot in a couple. I lost my favorite variegated leaf plant.
So sad.
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