The 2006 convention was jointly held by both the New York State and Mid-Atlantic African Violet Societies.  Held at the Treadway Inn in Owego, New York, the theme of the show was "Violets Around the World".

Fay Wagman served as convention chairman, and Sue Hoffman as show chairman.  The show was very well attended--both the show and sales rooms were always full of people, and the number and quality of the plants exhibited were excellent.

Doug Burdick, was the big winner, with his one and only entry in the show, a spectacular specimen of 'B-Man's Caltanisetta'.  Doug has a reputation for growing big showplants, and proves that one needed enter a lot of plants to win--it only takes one!

A number of different exhibitors were represented on the Court of Honor.  Shown at far left is the 2nd Best in show, 'Sancoucy Coco', entered by David Dick.  Shown at center is the Best Trailer in show, 'Milky Way Trail', entered by Judy DuPont.  At right is the Best Other Gesneriad in show, Aeschynanthus humilis, entered by Bill Price of Vancouver, British Columbia (he transported this to the show by plane then by car!).

Of course, we brought a number of plants ourselves, and did quite well.  Rob entered a number of minis and semiminis, including those shown at right. 

At near right is 'Rob's Chilly Willy', the Best Miniature in show and at far right is 'Rob's Scrumptious', the Best Semiminiature as well as 3rd Best in show.  Both are new releases that make superiour showplants.

Another of our varieties, 'Rob's Slap Happy', appeared on the court as 2nd Best Semiminiature in show, entered by Carol Hamelink (shown at far left).  At near left is another lovely plant, 'Rob's Pewter Bells' grown by Rodney Barnett.

Not shown is Olive's entry of Columnea 'Broget Stavenger', which appeared on the Court of Honor as the 2nd Best Other Gesneriad in show.

Of course, Olive had a number of design entries in the show (11 to be exact!), winning sweepstakes as well as a number of other awards.

Shown at far left is her Best Interpretive Flower Arrangement and Best in Design entry, 'New Zealand' (subtitled "penguins"), a "black and white" design.  Yes those are goose eggs (from our pet geese). 

At near left is the Best Plant Arrangement, and 2nd Best in Design, 'Russia'.  This is Olive's interpretation of Russian artist Marc Chagall's famous painting "I am the Village".  Olive's subtitle for this class--"I am the the Violet".

Another of Olive's, 'Germany', shown at far left, won as 2nd Best Flower Arrangement.

Of course, Olive wasn't the only exhibitor in the design division.  One of the more creative entries in the show was Bob Clark's interpretation of 'Japan', a dish garden, shown at near left.

Next year's NYSAVS convention is scheduled for the same weekend, to be held in Rochester.  The Mid-Atlantic AVS convention show will be held in early November in Baltimore.  We'll be at both.  Come and see us there!