My great-grandmother, like many great-grandmothers of her era, could grow African violets like nobody's business. Yesterday I found her recipe for African violet soil, written in the particular elegant, old cursive of those turn-of-the-century generations. It was for an African violet lover, like uncovering the Dead Sea scrolls.
Helen Goeglein was Great-grandmother's BFF. I remember that they were as tight at 85 as they must have been as little girls, and it was bitter-sweet for my Grandmother to have outlived her. They had so much fun admiring each other's flowers- Grandmother always said that Helen grew much better violets than she did, and of course Helen said the same thing about my grandmother.
I typed the recipe exactly as it was written, the notes are hers. I have no idea how much 29 cents of Vermiculite was when this was written, but it's probably pretty important. Anyway, it's a good excuse to go call your mom or great aunt or grandmother and ask her.
If you try this recipe, let us know how it goes! N.G.
14 comments:
Such a sweet story and recipe about your grandmother, her violets and her dear friend.
I'm wondering will the next generations leave behind sweet handwritten recipes?
That is special! I can't help but wonder how much she paid for a 1 lb can of coffee back in the day.
On another subject, will either of you be joining Les Dames d' Escoffier's, Farm-to-Fork Tour of Virginia's Rappahannock County on June 10th? Although I'll be missing it, it sounds like a fun food & farming field trip.
My grandmother (who is now 100 or 101,depending on who you ask) grew African Violets for as long as I can remember. She was, often, the champion for the state of LA at those shows. She had 2 greenhouses at her home, completely devoted to her violets.I remember her being alllllll about the soil. She had large vats of it that she mixed to her exact recipe. And don't forget the special fluorescent lights! What a similar story to yours!
:-)Thanks, Laura
It is such a treasure to have that information in your grandmother's hand. I love all the recipes I have from my grandmother and mother that they wrote out in longhand, some quickly on the back of an envelope.
Best...Victoria
How wonderful to have that hand written recipe from you great grandmother. My grandmother always had a kitchen window full of African violets...now I do too. I love carrying on traditions from the generations before! Do you grow yours outside? In Ct. they can only be inside plants. Thanks for sharing. Jennifer
WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share..
so sweet
my grandmother also had window shelves of african violets. isn't it interesting how certain plants can define an era, aka spider plants 1970's, palms victorian era.........
happy weekend
debra
Hi Kathy! I hope so. There is something wonderful about finding something in someone's own handwriting. N.G.
Hi Donna, Me too. Probably much less than a pound at Starbucks! (Although I LOVE Starbucks!) I so wish I could do the Farm-To-Fork Tour, it sounds fantastic. Maybe Jennings will get to go, sounds right up his alley!
Hi Laura, How wonderful. I wonder if her recipe is similar to this one! Things just seemed to grow for my great grandmother. I suppose it had something to do with not being in such an all-fired hurry about everything like we are today. She had so much patience.
When I look Helen's handwriting, I can just picture her! I suppose that is why they say one can "read" a person's personality through their handwriting.
I have them inside, but I think Jennings has some violets outside. I'm going to send him a note and ask. Oh my gosh, she had glass shelves in front of her kitchen window and gorgeous violets. How charming that you do too! As I get older, those traditions mean so much more to me.
Thanks for stopping by!
Hi! Wow, so true. You're so smart, I hadn't thought of it that way. I wonder why that is? Hmm...
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