Many chapters of The Gesneriad Society hold regular meetings. Listed below you will find announcements of some of these meetings. 

Schedules are subject to change, so please contact the chapter representative for further details. 

Don't miss the events schedule for information on gesneriad shows and sales. For a complete listing of The Gesneriad Society chapters see the chapters page.

Attention Gesneriad Society Chapters. List your monthly schedules here. It's a great way to let people know who you are, and what you do. Send us the information or webmaster@gesneriadsociety.org

California

San Francisco Gesneriad Society

Meetings are usually held on the third Sunday of each month, 1-4pm in the Garden Club Room, at the San Francisco County Fair Building, Golden Gate Park, 9th Ave & Lincoln Way, San Francisco.
To get to the Garden Club Room on weekends enter the parking lot on the north side of 10th Avenue and Lincoln Way. At the gate next to the building, turn right. Go to the fourth door near the huge yellow brugmansia.

All meetings (except field trips) include plant "show and tell" and plant raffle.
Programs are subject to change.
Guests are encouraged to join us!

For more information contact: David Waugh

Delta Gesneriad and African Violet Society

Delta Gesneriad & African Violet Society meets the third Wednesday of each month at 11 AM (sack lunch at noon) at the Shepard Garden and Arts Center, 3300 McKinley Boulevard, Sacramento, CA.

For more information contact: Lynn Lombard or Chapter Website

Grow and Study Chapter

The Grow and Study Chapter meets on the fourth Saturday of each month (except December) at 10:00 a.m. at Anaheim United Methodist Church, 1000 State College Blvd., Anaheim, CA 02806. We do not meet in December.
For more information contact Jacquie Eisenhut.

Peninsula Gesneriad Society

The Peninsula Gesneriad Society normally meets the second Thursday of every month except August (when we have a barbecue) and December (when we have a Christmas dinner). Meetings usually last from 7 p.m. to 9:30. Guests are always welcome.
For more information contact Alan LaVergne.

Colorado

Gloxinia Gesneriad Growers (3Gs)

The Gloxinia Gesneriad Growers (3Gs) meet the first Saturday of the month (except June, July, and August) from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm at the Denver Botanic Gardens, 1005 York Street, Denver, CO 80206, (720) 865-3500 and the plant society information line at (720) 865-3639. Visit our Website

Contact Ann Watterson for current information. Visitors are always welcome! 

Delaware

Delaware African Violet and Gesneriad Society

The Delaware African Violet and Gesneriad Society meetings are held on the second Tuesday evening of September –November and January –May at 7:30 p.m. at Rockland Place, 1519 Rockland Rd, Wilmington, DE 19803 Email Contact: Quentin Schlieder. For directions use this link

Tuesday, September 13, 2011 – 7:30 p.m. - “Understanding the African Violet Species” with Mary Schaeffer
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 – 7:30 p.m. -   “Cape Primrose 101” with Brian
Tuesday, November 8, 2011 – 7:30 p.m. - “Aeschynanthus” with Quentin Schlieder
Friday, November 11, 2011 – 7:30 p.m. - Trip to the Mid Atlantic African Violet Society Convention
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 – 6:30 p.m.  (Note earlier time! Location to be announced) - Pot Luck Dinner and Auction
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 – 7:30 p.m. - “African Violet Troubles!”  Member panel discussion
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 – 7:30 p.m. - Program:    “African Violet Trailers”   Bill Price’s presentation at the 2009 AVSA Convention in Reno Nevada. 
Tuesday, March 13, 2012 – 7:30 p.m. - “Getting Ready for Show”
Tuesday, April 10, 2012 – 7:30 p.m. - “Judging Gesneriads” a PowerPoint® presentation developed by Dale Martens, Paul Kroll and Bill Price
Tuesday, May 8, 2012 – 7:00 p.m. - “Terrariums” – with Lynn Cook and Troy Ray
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 – 6:00 p.m.  (Note earlier time! Location to be announced) - Potluck Dinner and Picnic

 

Florida

Caribbean Basin Gesneriad Society

The Caribbean Basin Gesneriad Society meets the second Saturday of the month 10 a.m. to noon at Palm Hammock Orchid Estate, 9995 S.W. 66 St., Miami FL 33165-5241. Guests welcome, Free Admission to Garden and Meeting. Raffle Table,  Hands-on- programs for our violets and other Gesneriad! For more info email Janis Mink

Suncoast Gesneriad Society

Meetings are normally held every other month either at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota or at members homes. Due to current circumstances, meetings have been suspended temporarily but will resume in the fall of 2011. Anyone in the area interested in attending gesneriad meetings/programs in the interim, please see the Tampa Bay Chapter listing as guests are welcome at their monthly Saturday meetings anytime.

Tampa Bay Gesneriad Society

Meetings are usually held the third Saturday of each month at the office of Dr. Martinez, 402 West Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, starting at 10:00 a.m. Contact President Jo Anne Martinez, 809 Taray de Avila, Tampa, FL 33613-1048 For more info email President Jo Anne Martinez

Bloomin' Violets & Gesneriads of Palm Beach

Co-Presidents, Martha Spyridon, , 3548 Ensign Circle, Delray Beach, FL 33483 and Lynn DiMaio, 2319 Treasure Isle Dr., #49, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, 33710.

Illinois

Northern Illinois Gesneriad Society

Meetings are usually held on the third Sunday of the month in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. Meetings run from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. At each meeting there is a special program, a raffle table with interesting selections, and refreshments. For more information contact Carol Sharits (773) 728-9970 or Bob Nicholson (773) 619-3025
Chapter Website

2012

Jan. 15	“Petrocosmea” - A PowerPoint presentation by Tim Tuttle from the July 2009 Gesneriad Society Convention.
Feb. 19	“The 4 ‘P’s’ for the Sales Table – Preparation to Propagation to Pricing to Packing” . And “Getting Ready for our Show”. A timeline as to when to start doing each ‘P’ from the perspective of various members who grow for sale, and how they accomplish this.
Mar. 17-18	“Show & Sale” - At the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, Ill. Come and see all of the rare and beautiful plants, the artistic entries, and the educational entries. Also, offered for sale are plants, cuttings, and supplies.
Apr. 15	“A Gesneriad Practicum: From Seeds to Plants” - Members will select seeds from the BrazilPlants seed listing at the meeting prior to the program. Each member in attendance will have the opportunity to sow a starter pot with the seed they have selected. Participating members will bring their seedlings to a later meeting when they will transplant them. It is suggested that members may wish to trade plants at that time. And a “Report on the March Show and Sale”
May 20	“Judging School” – Member Dale Martens will conduct an all-day school on ‘Judging Gesneriads’. Join us to learn more about growing gesneriads, what you should be looking for, and what you should be doing. Starts promptly at 9:00AM to 4:00PM. Registration required - see the registration form on the website. The registration fee is $10.00.
June 17	“Gesneriad Hybridizers Association Meeting” – A PowerPoint presentation of the July 2011 meeting at the 2011 Gesneriad Society Convention showing some of the new plant materials and hybrids. .
July 15	“A Picnic” - You are invited to join us for an afternoon of fun, games, camaraderie and good food at the Club Picnic at the home of member Gary Mikita. Plus you get to see into the infamous crawl space!
Aug. 19	“Dish Gardens” - Member Francis Jarnowski will explain and demonstrate how to construct a dish garden. Bring a suitable container and suitable plants to make your own. Some plant materials will be available and for sale by members. Soil, moss, etc., will be furnished by the club. There will also be a “Report on the 2012 Gesneriad Society Convention”
Sep. 16	“Pick, Dry, and Preserve” – A slide program detailing the complete drying process of plant material, and how to execute for floral arrangements. A slide program from National Garden Clubs.
Oct. 21	“Indoor Lighting – Suggestions and Questions” – Member Bob Nicholson will discuss options for indoor lighting, with feedback from other club members as to their lighting methods. And a “Report on the Growing From Seed Program” with David Harley (see the April program)
Nov. 18	“Companion Planting – Cultivation of Orchids at Home” – A lecture and Power Point presentation by Cheryl Erins of the Batavia Orchid Society and the American Orchid Society. She will discuss how to grow beautiful orchids in the home, and will address repotting, growing conditions, lighting, and pests.
Dec. 9 *	“Holiday Party and Silent Auction” – Spend an afternoon of good food, good conversation, games, music, plus lots of time to brag. We will also have our traditional spectacular Silent Auction.

*Indicates that it is not the third Sunday of the month.

 

Kansas/Missouri

Heart of America Chapter Meetings:

****  Heart of America Gesneriad Society Meeting Dates for 2011 ****
Unless otherwise announced all meetings will be at the Loose Park Garden Center Building
5200 Pennsylvania Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 9:30-12:00.
Call the Garden Center at 816-784-5300 Tues – Sat during business hours for any questions.

January 15
March 19
May 21
July 16
August 20
November 19

Flower Show and Plant Sale Dates for 2011
The flower show dates for 2011 are
Friday October 21: Entries 8:30-11:00, Judging 1 pm - 4 pm,  Plant sale 12- 4 pm  and
Saturday October 22: Flower Show and Plant Sale 10 am - 4 pm.

If you would like more detailed directions or have questions, please don't hesitate to contact Susan Grose.

Massachusetts

New England Chapter:

Meetings are held at the Waltham Field Station, 246 Beaver St. Waltham MA
Regular features:
Little show
Lending library
Plants for sale
Any questions contact Wanda Macnair

Minnesota

Twin Cities Area Chapter

The Twin Cities Area Chapter of The Gesneriad Society meets at St. Christopher's Episcipal church in the Crusader room at 6:30 on the 4th Tuesday of each month except July, August, and December. Chapter Website
For more info see: http://twincitiesgesneriads.blogspot.com/
President, Sue Chorn or Jinean Schofield, Secretary, 4665 Morris Lane, Bloomington, MN. 55437

New Jersey

Frelinghuysen Arboretum Gesneriad Society

Frelinghuysen Arboretum Gesneriad Society meetings are usually held the first Thursday evening of each month in the Haggarty Education Classroom A at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 53 East Hanover Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07962-1295.
Guests are welcome.

Little Show Entries are accepted from 7:00 - 7:30 p.m.; plant sales open at 7:30 Guests are welcome. (Note that there are no regular meetings in January, July or August, and other meeting dates may vary due to the availability of guest speakers or events/programs shared with other chapters.)

Contact Karyn Cichocki for more information.

New York

African Violet and Gesneriad Society of Western New York

The African Violet and Gesneriad Society of Western New York meets on the third Tuesday of each month, September to June. The meetings begin at 7:30 PM in the cafeteria of Depew High School on Transit Road in the village of Depew, New York. Parking and entry at the rear of the complex. Show and Sale 1st weekend in May - Galleria Mall, Cheektowaga, NY. Contact President Paul Kroll, 4325 Two Rod Road, East Aurora, NY 14052.
Visit the Chapter Website

Meetings on the 3rd Tuesday of the months - September to June
Depew High School cafeteria , Transit Road, Depew, NY at 7:30 PM
Show and Sale 1st weekend in May - Galleria Mall, Cheektowaga, NY

GesneriadDicts of Western New York

Meetings are held the third Sunday of each month at 2pm at various members homes. Visitors and guests are invited to attend. Check our Chapter Website for current programs and meeting places, or contact Irwin Wagman.

Greater New York Gesneriad Society

Chapter web page containing meeting address and schedule can be found at Chapter Website
All visitors welcome to attend as our guest.

Contact Gary Vellenzer

Long Island Gesneriad Society

The Long Island Chapter meets each month (except for July, August and January) at Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay, NY (Nassau County) at Noon. Each program is proceeded by a Little Show, plant and supply sale and exhibit table. For additional information, contact Ben Paternoster.

For further information visit our Chapter Website

Vestal African Violet and Gesneriad Society

The Vestal African Violet and Gesneriad Society usually meets the 2nd Sunday of the month except June, July and August, and May is the 3rd Sunday for our Fun show. We meet at 2 PM at the Vestal Public Library, Vestal Parkway, Vestal NY. 
In April and September we do a field trip to local Violet and Gesneriad growers. 

For further information, contact Lee Stradley

Pennsylvania

Liberty Bell Chapter

The Liberty Bell Chapter of Philadelphia, Pa. holds its meetings each month except June, July and August. Because we are a small group the meetings are held at individual members houses. The president of our chapter is Stephen Maciejewski

For further information visit our Chapter Website

Tennessee

Tennessee Gesneriad Society

The Tennessee Gesneriad Society usually meets at 2:00 p.m. on the second Sunday of the month at Cheekwood's Botanic Hall, 1200 Forrest Park Drive, Nashville, Tennessee, or at the home of a member, email below to double check.

For the meetings at Cheekwood, tell the guard at the gate that you're attending the Gesneriad Society meeting and get free admission to Cheekwood. We have excellent programs, bring in plants of the month, have show-and-tell, and almost every meeting at least one member brings in cuttings or plants to share. 

Programs 2012

January 8	Slide show
February 12	Pests and diseases up close
March 1-4	Lawn and Garden Show, TN State Fairgrounds
April 15	Propagation Workshop
May 20	Karyn Cichocki and judging school
June 10	Mini-show with innovative schedule
July 15	Convention Report
August 12	Pollination/hybridization workshop
September 7-9	Annual Show and Sale
October 14	"Dog" and Late Show
November 11	African Violet workshop
December 9	President's Party

Contact Julie Mavity-Hudson for more info.
Visit our Chapter Website 

Washington

The Puget Sound Gesneriad Society

Puget Sound Gesneriad Society
Host Club of the 2012 Convention
President: Rohm Gustafson

Guests always feel very welcome. Meetings are usually the 2nd Sunday of the month, from 1-4 pm, in members’ homes around the greater Puget Sound area. The special events like potlucks and field trips start at noon. 
All meetings include “Show and Tell”, educational programming, a plant raffle, and lively discussion. 
Programs listed here, and meeting sites are subject to occasional change, so please feel free to contact our President

2011 Schedule:
January—Hands-on photography workshop
February—Parlor Show, practice includes judges' critiques with a CD presentation  
March 19th and 20th—Annual Show & Sale at Swansons Nursery, 9701 15th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98117
April—Joint Meeting, Potluck, and Show Awards with SAVS, and a rhizome exchange, usually held at the Greenwood Library  
May—Growing and Knowing Episcias, slides and discussion
June— Garden Field Trip & Lunch at Lakewold Gardens
August—Sunny Summer Picnic 

Washington, DC

The National Capital Area Chapter of The Gesneriad Society

NCAC/AGGS) meets at 10:30 am in the administration building of the United States National Arboretum in Washington, DC. Refreshments are served and all are welcome!
For more information contact John Boggan or the Chapter Website.

CANADA

Carefree Gesneriad Society (Regina, Saskatchewan)

Meetingsings are held on the second Tuesday of the month in October, November, January, Feburary, March, April, May and June (Potluck supper).
May - The Annual Show and Sale are held on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday, prior to Mother's Day, in the Golden Mile Plaza Shopping Centre
Email Contact: President, Elaine Stutt

The EDMONTON AFRICAN VIOLET and GESNERIAD SOCIETY meets the first Monday of every month, with the exception of July, August, and December. The Meeting is from 7:00pm - 9:00pm and is held at the Central Lions Senior Citizens Recreation Centre.

Address:
11113 113 Street Nw
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
(780) 496-7366 (Facility Contact)
(780) 428-2805 (Club President Contact-Jeff Jackson)

All are welcome!
For more information, Contact President Jeff Jackson

Toronto Gesneriad Society

We meet at the Toronto Botanical Garden 777 Lawrence Avenue East Toronto, Ontario at 2:00 P.M., usually on the second Sunday of the month, except July and August. Please bring a guest. There are exceptions, due to holidays, therefore is best to visit our Chapter Website

Vancouver AV & Gesneriad Society

The Vancouver AV & Gesneriad Society meets the third Sunday of each month (except July, August and December) in the Cedar Room of Van Dusen Botanical Gardens at W. 37th Avenue & Oak Street.

Meetings begin with a Social get-together from 1:30 - 2:00 PM followed by the General meeting from 2:00 - 4:00 PM.

We have a plant and supplies sale, a rare plant raffle, show and tell and an educational programme at each onthly meeting.

For more information, contact Arleen Dewell or visit our Chapter Web site

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Sweden

Gesneriasts of Sweden

Coming events 2012.

February 4, at 1 p m, in Uppsala. 

 Åsa Tysk, gardener in  the Linnéan Gardens and responsible for Gesneriaceae in  the tropical greenhouses teaches a tips & techniques class about how to get neater and healthier plants. Followed by swapping table. Beginners without anything to share are also welcome! Contact lena.klintberg@gmail.com, tel 018/500978.

 

April 12-15, Nordic Gardens, Stockholm

The largest garden fair in Scandinavia. We have a large booth to display and sell plants, rhizomes, cuttings and literature. Those who sign up to help get free entry to the fair all days. Those who help with setting up on Wednesday 11/4 get a free dinner (often pancakes) from FOR, the main organizer of the fair. Contact Lena Klintberg, soonest,  if you have ideas and/or want to help!

 

April 27-29, Nolia Gardens & Antiques Fair, Umeå

We are happy to get, at last,  this site for a garden fair, Umeå´s established fair center, within walking distance from Inger Nilsson. Please contact her at ingernilsson4C@gmail.com, tel 090 - 8200593 if you want to help. Update of opening hours && at www.nolia.se.

 

May 19 - 20, Annual General meeting, in Älghult, Småland.

Hostess/contact person Susanne Hvegholm, shv@algonet.se, tel 0481 - 635 82.

 

May 19 - 20, Garden Fair in Rättvik, Dalarna.

 

August 25-26 Northern Germany

Our member Johannes-Ulrich Urban (Uli) has kindly invited us to his home and offered to guide us on a trip to botanic gadens with gesneriads.Starting with the one in Hannover, where the first saintpaulias out of Africa landed and were described. Ending in Berlin. The trip actually is going to take 4-5 days. Please let our contact lena.klintberg@gmail.com know which dates you prefer, either end of the weekend are possible. Check our home page www.gesneriasterna.se for updates!

Attention Gesneriad Society Chapters. List your monthly schedules here. It's a great way to let people know who you are, and what you do. Send us the information or webmaster@gesneriadsociety.org.