TGS Convention

The Violet Barn

2010 Gesneriad Society Convention Show

"Vancouver! Your Passport to Gesneriads!" was the theme for the 54th Annual Convention Show of the Gesneriad Society, hosted by the Vancouver AV and Gesneriad Society. Formerly known as AGGS, the Gesneriad Society is an organization devoted to the large and diverse family of plants of which African violets (Saintpaulia), is just one member. It is a truly international society, with members and exhibitors attending from many countries other than the US and Canada.

Bill Price won Best in Show, as well as many other awards. Shown at left is Bill's collection of 5 different Sinningia. This collection won Best in Show and shows the variety of sizes and forms of the genus.

A native of Vancouver, Bill is an excellent grower and exhibitor, having won many, many, awards at other national and regional shows. A highlight of the convention was a tour of Bill's home and a chance to see his collection of plants!

sinningia This being a "local" show, Bill had a chance to bring quite a few plants, all of which were spectacular (normally, he can only bring one or two at a time when he flies to shows in the states!).

Shown at far left is Sinningia guttata, a plant from his Best in Show collection. At near left is Sinningia bullata (formerly S. florianopolis). S. bullata was a plant from another collection of sinningia that Bill entered in the show.

We grow both of these species ourselves, but not nearly this well. More of Bill's plants are shown below.

gasteranthus agalmyla At far left, Lysionotus pauciflorus. Perhaps the nicest example of this plant we've seen. We've grown it in hanging baskets, but never as well.

At center left, a spectacular example of Gasteranthus atratus. This is a plant that must be grown in a container with 100% humidity. It was shown in a plexiglass container. At near left, Agalmyla parasitica. This plant was staked and was about 3e feet in height. We got cuttings, and will try to find space for it in our glasshouse.

pearcea conandron sinningia african violet Some more of Bill's entries: from left to right.

Pearcea schimpfii.
Conandron ramondoides. The white blossomed version. Last year, Bill showed the pink one.
Sinningia 'Prudence Risley'. From his collection.

Saintpaulia shumensis. A species African violet.

episcia streptocarpus sinningia chiritopsis kohleria

Of course there were other exhibitors. Here's a few of the other plants that we saw at the show. From left to right:

Episcia 'Pink Smoke'. A variegated episcia exhibited by Beverly Williams of Brooklin, Ontario.
Streptocarpus 'Heartland's Baby Egrets'. Shown by Tim Cuthbertson. This is a much sought-after, small-growing variety from Dale Martens.
Sinningia 'Peridots Autumn Embers'. Hybridized and shown by Iain James. A variegated variety that won Best New Gesneriad.
Chiritopsis repanda v. guilinensis. Shown by Arlene Duell, also of Vancouver. A fragrant gesneriad (though not everyone likes the scent)!
Kohleria 'Peridots Pakal'. Another hybrid and entry of Iaian James. You'll find many of Iain's varieties listed elsewhere on this site.

Having to travel across the continent from New York, and having to deal with Canadian customs, we didn't enter any plants ourselves (we did bring a few hundred cuttings for the sales room). Next year's show will be in Philadelphia during July 4th weekend, 2011. We'll be there (with plants)!