Our African Violet Heritage by Anne Tinari

This is a small, quality softbound book of approx 87 pages. The author is well-known in the African violet world, both as hybridizer and wonderful contributor to the African Violet Society as well as the general promotion of the African violet.

Anne and her husband Frank operated Tinari Greenhouse for 40 plus years and hybridized many violets. (FirstClass2 lists 268 names under the name Tinari.) The book contains black and white photos of the Tinaris and their greenhouse, plants and catalogs.

The book contains sections on the history of the African Violet Society, and thirty years of the Tinari Greenhouse history, as well as sections on 'Questions They Ask Me', Q and A. on Blooming, Culture, Diseases, Pests, Propagation, Soil, and Containers. A look at the various terms and types is also included.

In essence, this book is a chance to 'sit in the front', in a manner of speaking, at one of Anne's famous demonstrations and lectures. I think it would be hard for anyone to read this book without understanding how deeply captivated Anne is with African violets. As I read the book, I smiled often, and felt as if I were sitting with a friend who shared a wonderous facination with these amazing plants.

For me, I particularly enjoyed the honor and respect she gave the plant varieties themselves, acknowledging each has an individual 'personality' and celebrating those differences. She claimed no credit for being extraordinarily skilled as a grower, just in learning from experience what these plants demanded. Each variety, indeed each plant, is discussed as an old and dear friend.

"Q: DEAR ANNE...What is your favorite cultivar?
A: Most every day of my life someone asks me this question. I hesitate to voice an opinion as I have the rare opportunity of observing many African violets come into their finest bloom and love each one as they appear..... Such beauty is hard to describe but each has a special appeal. We must continually strive to look for new and improved cultivars, but it is sometimes difficult to abandon the old as working with them, they become like old friends, living long in our fondest memories."

"We have learned much and yet we have  only just begun. One person's lifetime is not enough. Let us say we have only removed the veneer to expose the hidden potential in the progress of African violets.

....Having been a tiny part of this amazing horticultural happening, I for one, would not trade places with anyone or anything for the many memorable experiences Frank and I have shared in the wonderful world of African violets." ~~ Anne Tinari

Review by Mrs. John

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