African Violets: Gifts from Nature
The Series: Book One

Features:
· beautifully designed full color cover
· over 40 color photos + b/w and color illustrations by a professional artist
· featured articles contributed by Dr. Jeff Smith, Dr. Jon Lovett, Gwen Mergian,
Nancy Robitailla, Barbara Spofford, Joyce Stork, Janet Stromborg and Judy Barrett.
· special appendixes listing the original Saintpaulia species and detailed information on
the reclassification of the species
· Available as 8.r x 11 paperback book
· 150 pages; 250 word glossary
· for a preview go to www.authorhouse.com

Book One

Forward

CH 1 African Violets: Everyone’s Bloomin’ Favorite
· The speculative romantic discovery of the first African violets
provides an alluring story for enthusiasts to contemplate. The
popularity of these beautiful plants and their exquisite range of
multiple colored flowers presents the reasons for their immense
popularity with garden hobbyists. Traces their history from Africa, to
Germany, to England and finally America.

CH 2 History of African Violets at a Glance
· Chronological history of the significant African violet events as
they unfolded from 1892 through 2009

CH 3 Why Your African Violets Won’t Flower
· Discusses the reasons hobbyist may be having difficulties keeping
their plants crowned with gorgeous flowers: beginning with inadequate
light, improper feeding, lazy plants, haphazard watering practices,
humidity requirements, importance of temperature control, stale air,
dusty leaves, wrong size pots and ending with poor air quality.

CH 4 Botany of the African Violet Plant
· Hobbyists wanting to know more about their plants than just how to
grow them will find this chapter especially fascinating. An extensive
look at many of the botanical features of African violets opens up a
unique world for exploration by the readers, enhancing their enjoyment
of their plants. Illustrations of the different types of leaves and
blossoms are done in such detail they seem to come alive.

CH 5 Portrait of the Gesneriaceae Family
· African violets belong to a very intriguing group in the plant
kingdom-the Gesneriaceae Family. A brief history introduces this
family to the reader. To highlight this family a thumbnail sketch of
sixteen of the members shows their remarkable diversification.

· Pronunciation Guide to Members of the Gesneriaceae Family
· Glossary
· Appendix: reclassification of the Saintpaulia species

African Violets: Gifts from Nature
The Series

Books Two and Three in The Series are currently 70% completed. These
books will contain approximately 40 color photographs, with additional
illustrations enhancing the material presented in the books. Articles
from selected guest writers will provide unique growing tips for the
reader to contemplate.

Book Two
CH 6 Understanding Your Potting Mixture
CH 7 Pots and Your African Violets
CH 8 African Violet Plant Food
CH 9 Water and the Plant
CH 10 Environmental Factors Influence Growth of African Violets
CH 11 Light: Its Role in the African Violet Kingdom

Book Three
CH 12 Propagation of African Violets
CH 13 Pesticides: Are They Safe?
· Death of a Five Year Old
CH 14 African Violet Pests
CH 15 Seeds: A Fascinating Way to Grow African Violets
CH 16 The ABC’s of Hybridization

African violets:
Queens of the Indoor Gardening Kingdom

Plans are underway for republishing African Violets: Queens of the
Indoor Gardening Kingdom. Additional information on this book will be
provided at a later date.