2024 AVSA 78th Annual Convention
April 21 – April 28, 2024
Presentations
Why did my Violet Die?
Thursday, April 25
10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Joyce Stork
Henderson, Nevada
About the Presentation
Joyce was part of a violet business for many years in Nebraska. Customers often brought in their struggling violets to have them diagnosed. Joyce created an ‘intensive care’ shelf unit for those violets and, as a result, she learned much about the mistakes and problems ordinary growers have. Even better, she learned how to cure most of them. Learn how to rescue your violets the next time… before they die! Bring your questions as a Q&A period will follow the presentation.
About the Presenter
Joyce Stork has grown African violets for over 50 years. She and her late husband operated Kent’s Flowers in Fremont, Nebraska from 1977 to 2016, before retiring to Henderson, Nevada. During that time, they wrote the ‘Beginner’s Column’ for the African Violet Magazine for over 10 years. Those columns were later turned into their book You Can Grow African VIolets, which is now owned by AVSA. Joyce is currently a member of the Glitter Gulch African Violet Growers, in Las Vegas.
Lighting…the Basics and Facts About LEDs
Friday, April 26
10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Bruce Williams
Brooklin, Ontario, Canada
About the Presentation
You often hear the term “T8 or T12” when referring to light bulbs. What does that mean? Do you know the difference between fluorescent lights and LED? And what makes up an LED light? This ‘layman man’s’ presentation explains terms that many may not know and gives some of the answers about why you might consider converting to LED lights.
About the Presenter
As a Master Electrician, Bruce worked in the Commercial/ Industrial field and is now retired. He is the hybridizer of Streptocarpus ‘Brooklin’s Bubble Gum’. He started converting his wife Beverley’s T12 fixtures to T8 fixture long before others were even thinking about doing it when he came home one day with a bag of T8 ballasts. Later convincing her to try LEDs to help save the cost on the electric bill.
Underwater Design 101
Friday, April 26
3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Linda Hall
Ravenwood, Missouri
About the Presentation
Want to know how to construct an underwear design without it floating? Have you ever wanted to exhibit an underwater design, but were afraid to attempt one because you thought it was too difficult? Learn how to construct an underwater design from the beginning to the end in a simplified manner. Learn tricks that will help you succeed in creating your own underwater design. It all starts with the container and ends with adding the water.
About the Presenter
Linda has been growing African violets since 1958 and has been designing since 1986. Her favorite designs are dish gardens, underwater and mirror images. With almost 40 years of knowledge, she has learned from her mistakes and wants to share that knowledge with you of how to create an underwater design.
Zeroing in on the Nutrients in Fertilizers
Saturday, April 27
10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Dr. Jeff Smith
Muncie, Indiana
About the Presentation
A common method of studying the effect of a fertilizer nutrient on plant growth is to remove one element at a time, observe the effect on the plant, and link the cause and effect relationship. Such a study has not been done on African violets. This presentation will share the results of nutrient deficiency experiments on rooting plantlets, rooting leaf cuttings and the regrowth of regenerating adult plants. The presentation will provide picture guides of what happens when one element is removed from a fertilizer solution allowing any grower to better diagnose nutrient deficiency problems.
About the Presenter
Dr. Jeff is a scientist who has been studying African violets for over 40 years. He is best known for his long running hybridizing column “In Search of New Violets”, but he has also published on African violet taxonomy, chemistry of flower pigments and other topics. Jeff hopes that retirement will allow more time for the scientific study of African violets.
Unusual African Violets and What Makes them Different?
Saturday, April 27
1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Dr. Rachel Martin
Irvine, California
About the Presentation
Have you ever wondered why African violet flowers sparkle or how they get their diverse colors? Have you seen the wide range of unusual leaf and blossom shapes African violets can achieve? They have a lot of different forms beyond the symmetrical plants we usually see at shows. Rachel will take you on a tour of the science behind these adaptations and explain the experimental methods we use to understand them.
About the Presenter
Dr. Rachel has grown African violets for many years, beginning seriously when she moved from Phoenix to Connecticut and couldn’t stand not having flowers during winter. Now, she is a professor of Chemistry and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, and her research interests intersect with her love of these beautiful and colorful plants.
