Greetings to all
African violet and Gesneriad enthusiasts
who are joining us at this website.

Dear UPAVS Members

I want to thank you very much for all the help, support and kindness you have given to the club and to me this past year. This past year has been filled with new friends, who enthusiastically anticipate learning about, growing and sharing African Violets. Our club motto "Grow, Share and Show" appears to be much more than just words.

This past year provided also many, many opportunities to learn from our longtime friends, our supportive teachers.

This year has given us new challenges and opportunities to learn how to grow better; how to show our beautiful violets in meetings and a show; how to share and communicate better the knowledge and understanding we have (not only about violets); what is available like new varieties of African Violets and unusual Gesneriads.

I hope you all are enjoying beautiful Florida indoors & out.

Fantastic, splendid, awesome, gorgeous, very beautiful, and perfect ... were some of the words used to describe our 2008 show. With so many perfect entries, I am sure the judges' skills were sharpened. The design section should also get recognition with its 12 blue ribbons and five contributors. Also, Phyllis showed some very unusual and very nicely grown other gesneriads. The public always seems to enjoy seeing the 'cousins' in the show.

By now the realization hits home that a show is truly a cooperative effort from all the members. We need each other very much. All the activities from setup to tear-down are vital and needed. I want to thank all the exhibitors, helpers and supporters, those who are not able to physically help but who give the club believing support. I hope you had fun, and you got to learn and grow personally.

After the shows, members tend to have more interest in their own African violets and gesneriads. We can show our appreciation to our blooming plants by leaching the heavier fertilizer build-ups from the soil and repotting each plant in fresh soil and a clean pot. Even if we were not able to have exhibits, now is a good time to do the same thing for our violets at home.

Also, we usually buy new plants and leaves from the shows. We start new varieties and look over our collections carefully, omitting a few. Remember that the raffle table is a great place to share these extras. With the new leaves, we can anticipate having new gorgeous varieties in our collections soon.
Try to attend some of the shows in nearby cities - Tampa, Spring Hill and Orlando shows are coming up soon. AVSA, Dixie & AGGS conventions too.

I am thankful for this privilege to serve.

Feel free to call me at (727) 545-8085   or send

The resources are available to answer questions on growing African violets and gesneriads and to provide all the needed growing supplies.

I wish I had the words to fully express how helpful and knowledgeable this club is. I guess you will have to find out for yourself.

See you soon, I hope.
Growing, Sharing, and Showing

Glenn Shelton