Karin asked Annie:
Q If you have several African violets in a dish garden or terrarium, do they all need to be in bloom? Or can you use some for texture and landscaping – using their shape and foliage, even though they are shy bloomers. Then add at least one blooming specimen…
One plant that comes to mind is Senk’s Anemone – but also some micro trailers – they would definitely add interest, but I’ve yet to see them bloom.
A Karin, this is a great question, and you’ve touched on a grey area! My initial thought is that if it’s an African violet in a dish garden or terrarium, it probably needs to be in bloom (this is what I was taught). The section that addresses this in the Handbook for Grower, Exhibitors, and Judges is on page 70, but it could be interpreted in more than one way so I ran it by Joyce as she is an experienced designer.
Here is Joyce’s take: “This is a gray area, but I think Karin could do exactly what she is proposing without breaking the rules. Each panel of judges makes its own call, however, so there’s no guarantee. The rule [on page 70 of the Handbook] which applies states:
Container Gardens are miniature scenes in which one or more blooming African violet plants, along with other plants are actually planted and growing in the container.
I think that most judging panels which saw one or more blooming African violets in a container garden would feel that the rule was satisfied. However, what exactly is meant by other plants? Is a non-blooming African violet just another plant? Or does “other” mean not-an-African-violet? That’s the gray area. It isn’t impossible that a judging panel might opt for an extremely strict interpretation. It’s actually a question that would be well-placed in front of the Shows and Judges Committee for a ruling – in which case the gray area would be removed. Although… Shows and Judges might rule against you… and if you don’t ask, you could probably do this 90% of the time without anyone objecting.”
If you have a question about African Violets that you would like answered, you can submit it at Ask Annie!
What would it take to have this posed to the committee for a ruling? It seems like good question!
Laurie – it could be a good question, but, as Joyce said, it is a grey area that some might not really want a definitive answer on ;-) I was taught that any violet in a design had to be blooming, but that was years ago, and, based on the Handbook at the moment, it could be interpreted either way.
Thanks! love those gray areas :) so much room for creativity, but sometimes it is easier to have things spelled out, before getting disappointed by a ruling that makes no sense (to you anyhow)