African violets. Could a name sound more magical? Even though they have suffered an identity crisis of late—sometimes being pegged as stuffy and old-fashioned—they are enchanting, easy-care bloomers. They are a colorful addition to the houseplant landscape, with countless varieties of color and texture. I’ve had one violet for decades and a large part of…

“People are drawn to lilies because they are tough, hardy, relatively disease- and pest-free, and they multiply,” says Barbara Ronningen, North Star Lily Society (NSLS) member and convention chair. “They really stick with you. I have a clump of lilies I bought in 1984 still. Plus, they are beautiful.” Founded for educational and scientific purposes,…

Twin Cities Gesneriad Society was founded in the 1970s as both a group in its own right and as a chapter of The Gesneriad Society, an international non-profit society dedicated to the study, habitat preservation, species conservation, and propagation of plants of the Gesneriad family.