African violet grower enjoys her year-round blooms

Tonya Hughes loves that fact that when snow covers the ground, she can go to the "Violet Room" of her Aurora home and see flowers blooming.

Given light and proper care, African violets flower year round, she said.

"I think that's why it's one of the most popular flowers. Even in the Midwest, you can have flowers in the wintertime," she said.

By last count, Hughes had about 200 African violets of various hues growing in her basement under a light.

She and other members of the Fox Valley African Violet Society will put some of their beauties on display at the club's third annual African Violet Show and Sale from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Morton Arboretum in Lisle.

"It's really become big for us because as violet growers, we want everybody to love and know violets," said Hughes, the club's vice president. "We have the most beautiful plants in the world."

The judged show will include African violets and other gesneriads available for purchase, and an education table where visitors can learn more about growing the blooms. The club will have an children's corner too, and horticultural and floral design exhibits.

The floral designs will reflect the theme of this year's show, "Miss Violet Cruisin' the Fox Valley," Hughes said. Miss Violet is the club's mascot, a fox. Violet blooms will be part of displays representing several Fox Valley communities, including Lisle, Naperville, Warrenville, St. Charles, Geneva and Elgin.

Many people may not be aware of the great variety of African violets available, Hughes said. Native to Tanzania, Africa, the flowers have been hybridized with great success.

Many African violets are purple as their name suggests, but they also can be blue, white, red, pink or, in rarer cases, yellow. The petals may be edged in a different color than the rest of the flower or splashed with a "fantasy color" that contrasts with the rest of the petal. Leaves also can vary in color, shape and texture.

"When you start collecting, you want one of each," Hughes said. "My personal favorites are the reds and whites."

Hughes' love affair with African violets began about 15 years ago while she was a in college. She bought her first plants in the grocery store. Through her college years, she had two of the potted blooms that she transported back and forth on school breaks.

Like many people, she was simply fell for the beauty of the flowers, she said.

"When you really look at it, the petals of the flower, they look almost like velvet. It mesmerizes you," she said.

Hughes found the Fox Valley African Violet Society about five years ago when she was looking for information on how to repot her African violets. She's been an active member ever since.

An affiliate of the Illinois African Violet Society, the group has nearly 30 members making it the largest in the state.

"We have members who drive an hour (to go to the meetings)," Hughes said.

Club President Tomi Griesenauer said she is appreciative that Hughes recently accepted the job of vice president, which includes planning the programs when the society meets at 7:30 p.m. the third Friday of month at the Warrenville fire station.

"She's very enthusiastic, always wants to learn new things and make sure she has the right steps," Griesenauer said.

Hughes said African violets are easy to grow, but need the right conditions to thrive.

"The biggest problem your average grower would have with violets is that they kill it with love. They give it to much water," Hughes said.

Growers should feel the soil to make sure the plant needs water, she said. Water should be tepid. Contrary to popular myth, African violets may be watered from above, but water should not sit on the leaves.

The plants also may be watered from the bottom by placing the flower pot in a saucer of water for a limited period of time.

"They don't like what we call wet feet," Hughes said.

Regular potting soil normally contains too much moisture-holding peat for African violets so it should be mixed with the additive perlite, Hughes said.

African violets need light to flower, but prefer shaded light to direct sunlight.

A busy wife and mother with a full-time job at Heritage Group YMCA, Hughes said she spends at least two hours a week caring for her African violets.

"Not nearly enough time," she said.

For information on the Fox Valley African Violet Society, contact Micheline England at (630) 244-4490 or meeze@wowway.com.

African Violet Show and Sale

Who: Fox Valley African Violet Society

When: noon to 5 p.m., Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday

Where: Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle

Cost: Free with arboretum admission of $9 adults, $8 seniors and children 3-12, and free children 2 and under

Info: (630)-862-9164 or tee7202@yahoo.com