Great Miniatures for Show

I was going to do a "Top 10" but once I started listing varieties it was not possible to limit it to ten.  They are presented in no particular order.

p.s.  Ann-Marie gave me grief for not adding comments on each one like I did the semis so I've come back and added my two-cents!

1.  Cloud Puff (Pittman) - This girl kicks butt.  Seriously...you need to grow it!

2.  Honey Puff (Pittman) - Sweet!  Get it...Honey = Sweet?  Nevermind!

3.  Jolly Orchid (Pittman) - Heaviest blooming plant I've ever seen - no kidding.

4.  Windsome (Pittman) - Look at the picture - nuf said!

5.  Petite Jewel (Pittman) - Definitely a jewel of a plant.

6.  Petite Tart (Pittman) - Don't let the "plain Jane" description fool you.
7.  Rob's Chilly Willy (Robinson) - Really nice - really!
8.  Jolly Diamond (Pittman) - Oh, aren't you growing this one?  Fool!
9.  Petite Blarney (Pittman) - "I don't like girl foliage" - that's what I used to say!
10.  Tamsen (A. E. Adams) - You've probably never grown it...and you should!
11.  Damas (A. E. Adams) - OMG!  Can't believe this one isn't on everyone's shelf!
12.  Precious Red (Pittman) - Hortense's BEST miniature (did I just say that?)
13.  Texas Space Dust (Pittman) - Oh, Hortense's 2nd BEST miniature!
14.  Pink Dove (Sorano) - Overlooked but not overrated.  Grow this one!

Caught Up?

I must say I was quite surprised when I discovered I had potted up all the starter plants from my leaf trays.  That's not to say in another 6 weeks I won't have another crop to deal with but for the moment - I'm caught up!

Introducing, "Chuckles"

Yes, it's been far too long since I posted anything and even longer since I had a new release.  I've been playing with this plant for about three years now and finally decided it's worthy of releasing.

The plant is named in honor of my faithful four legged companion Charlie.  "Chuckles" came to be when I was taking pictures last year and told Charlie to "smile".  He obliged so I've called him "Chuckles" since.  The formal description is:

Chuckles (D. Hoover) - Double white star with pink center/eye.  Medium green, quilted foliage.  Miniature.

What's blooming in the plant room today? Saintpaulia 'Celina Red Ribbons'

I don't generally continue to propagate sports but this one I think is exceptional.  This is a sport of Celina Dark Velvet.  I have just started propagating it so I won't have any to offer until the fall.  But it's pretty to look at!

 

What's blooming in the plant room today? Streptocarpus 'Dibley's Harlequin Blue'

I was fortunate enough to acquire this variety from "across the pond" last year.  Don't worry, I've propagated it well so there should be ample supply when spring shipping starts the middle of April!

Seriously! It just gets worse!

Come on, this is looking more and more like you're just throwing a name on a plant trying to sell it to some unsuspecting buyer.  

Are you buying these from a local wholesaler and simply throwing any name on it that comes to mind?  Seriously!  This is bad business, is deceitful and is a practice you should not engage in!

Rob's Fiddle Faddle (7431) 10/06/1990 (R. Robinson) Semidouble rose-pink. Dark green, pointed, hairy, serrated/red back. Semiminiature.

Hmmm?

I don't see anything about crown variegated foliage in this description from the hybridizer.  Do you?

Versus what it should look like...

True Blooming - You Be The Judge!

I don't know what it is with this particular eBay seller but they seem to have more than their fair share of auctions offering plants which are either not blooming true or are mislabeled.

I like to give folks the benefit of the doubt, but take a look at this - how obvious can it be that the plant they're selling as Playful Spectrum (P. Sorano) Single-semidouble white fluted star/blue fantasy, wide lavender-pink band. Medium green. Standard, is not Playful Spectrum?