Is This Clara?
No, this is one of Clara's daughters.My mom owns this violet.
Clara is the name of a violet owned by one of my mom's friends.
The violet is named after her friend's mother,
who first owned the violet.
Clara is over 30 years old!
Isn't she beautiful?
Meet Clara's granddaughter.
She's presently in the Nursery,in my living room.
Won't it be fun to have Clara III here in my home?
:-)
As an aside:
I spent an extended weekend at with my parents
in north central Iowa a week or so ago.
This is a photo of what I saw alongside the interstate
as I drove north.
I stopped, on the way, to visit my Aunt MEA.
This is a photo of her front step.
She is thankful for nice friends and neighborsthat move the snow for her!
Clara is lovely, and her granddaughter is adorable. I can't wait to see her up close! And all that snow, not so lovely!!!!
ReplyDeleteNow that is some snow!! Clara is lovely and holds her age so well. And congrats on the new granddaughter. I'm sure she's in good hands.
ReplyDeleteHi Jan, I'm excited to have Clara take root and feel at home here! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI was also glad to leave all that snow behind as I drove home... we have a little snow, but not Nearly as much!
Grace, Thanks for your visit. Clara is lovely! (I'll need to share my mom's entire collection of violets one of these days!) :-)
Clara is beautiful. That is one of the prettiest African Violets I've seen.
ReplyDeleteI do not care what they say that is just too much snow. Wow!
ReplyDeleteIt is so great to be able to have a violet that long, mine are lucky to last a year:) Clara is a very pretty one.Hope Clara III is just as pretty.
Lona
Clara III will be so pretty, based upon looking at her grandmother.
ReplyDeleteCameron
I won't complain about my snow any more. You have shamed me by showing all this snow in Iowa. It sure is pretty though. Your parents are blessed to have such good friends and neighbors taking care of them.
ReplyDeleteYou are certainly blessed to have Clara's Granddaughter residing at your house. I can see by looking at Clara that they are bluebloods. Simply beautiful.
Clara is gorgeous. My mother used to have a way with African violets. None of us could grow them the way she did. I have one now, but it hasn't been blooming for quite a while.
ReplyDeleteSo Shady, dear, when we southern residents wax poetic about snow you must want to pull your hair out! If this is what you experience and live with...while we think of a sweet snow fall and walking in the woods!
ReplyDeleteClara is lovely and her offspring will be, too!
Gail
Okay, I'm officially done complaining about winter. We've had nothing like what your photos show (at least this year). It would take until May to melt here! I hope not that long there.
ReplyDeleteI also didn't know an African violet could live so long. Those are some good "genes!" I think Clara III is going to be gorgeous just like everyone in her family before her. How long does it take a violet to root, grow and bloom?? Will we see flowers this year?
gp/Catherine, Thank you for visiting. I agree with you about Clara's beauty. :-)
ReplyDeleteLona, It was nice to have you visit, too. You're right - too much snow! We've not had that much (but that's where I grew up!) ;-) I'm hoping Clara likes it here.
Cameron, Isn't Clara pretty? I'm hopeful my thumb is violet/green! ;-)
Lisa, I don't know much about violets, but this does look like a special strain, doesn't it? My parents tell me they had 13" of snow last February. They're hoping that doesn't happen again this year!!!
Bobbie, Clara is even prettier "in person." ;-) My mom has such a way with violets, too. I hope I can keep two plants going!!
No, Gail. We might get a lot of snow at times (SE Iowa is usually balmy compared to northern Iowa), but I agree with you when it comes to its always beauty!! :-)
(Well, if it doesn't continue to fall in April!) ha.
Kathleen, You can continue to complain about the cold temperatures! (I'm almost inclined to begin a little grumbling!!)
I'm not sure how long it takes to root and then flower... but you'll see it when it happens!! :-)
Hi Shady,
ReplyDeleteClara is one lovely violet and makes me want to start growing those again after all these years! I used to grow them successfully in college but when I went abroad for a while, they didn't fare so well in foster care and died. If I found one of Clara's caliber, I'd get it, but it seems that all you see for sale these days are those icky ruffled pink horrors. Give me a nice purple single bloom and I'm quite happy!
I think Gail romanticizes snow too much, lol. We have had some piles about like that at your aunt MEA's around here until lately... but they are slowly starting to melt down. You know that little bed with the stone you gave me and the gargoyle? Until just this week, the snow was about 5 ft high there!
Wow, I can't complain about our 2 inches of now anymore. Beautiful plant you have. I am sure Clara III will just as wonderful.
ReplyDeleteClara is lovely and makes me wish I could have African violets again. My mother, too, used to have them and your photo brought back some good memories of her tending those flowers.
ReplyDeleteAs for the snow, Wow! One of my co-workers was in Iowa last weekend and was telling everyone about the snow.
Jan
Always Growing
Clara really is a beauty! I can grown them for awhile, but I don't get them transplanted when they need it, and I forget a watering, and all of a sudden they are on a decline that I can't get them out of.
ReplyDeleteIf our snow didn't melt between the different snowfalls we've had, it would look like yours. Brr!
IVG, We really can't complain about the snow that we've received down here. Everyone north of us, including those across the borders due east and west, has received a lot more snow. I know what you mean about some of the unattractive violets you see around. I'd like to know Clara's origin. ;-)
ReplyDeleteChad & Brandy, Thanks for your visit. :-)
Jan, I believe that memories are caught in plants as well as scents. Violets being one of them. Could you try again?
Sue, I think violets like their "perfect environment," whatever that may be. I did experience a failure last Winter. You're right! I must have done something wrong and the situation couldn't be reversed! I wonder if I could have incubated a leaf? ;-)
Yes, Clara is quite cute. And Iowa looks pretty much like southern Michigan, then. Also, I finally did a summer inspiration post!!!
ReplyDeleteClara is a beauty! I love the white ruffled edge. I hope the new baby does well for you :) In December of '07 a friend gave me several potted up leaves of two violets and they took ages to begin growing. I think it was almost spring, and then they grew slowly. During summer '08 one of them had about 3 purple blooms, the other none at all. They're doing nothing at the moment. I think I need advise from your mother!
ReplyDeleteWe have huge snowbanks here too, and more snow falling today.
I noticed your Feederwatch link. Are you participating?
Hi Monica! I'd assume you might have lots of snow!! And I'll be right over to see your post! Mine will be up on Monday, as tomorrow is "Muse Day." ;-)
ReplyDeleteHi Kerri, My mom would be great help! :-) I do participate in Feederwatch, but I've not been very good at it this year. That doesn't mean I'm not watching the birds, though!!
All the Clara girls are exquisite - a fine lineage, obviously... amazing longevity! Like the contrast between the warm interior and the snowscapes. /Deb
ReplyDeleteHi Deb! How are you? Isn't it amazing to think a violet could live that long? And my mom has even babysat/plantsat the Real Clara in her home! :-)
ReplyDelete