Still a household favorite

The much-heartier modern violet is a wild-child mix of single, double, and triple blooms; rosette and trailer shapes; sizes from mini to standard; colors, including mauve, amethyst, cerise, salmon, and crimson; patterns, such as streaks, swirls, stripes, polka dots, and ruffly edges; and notched, scalloped, fluted, and variegated leaves.

"They're certainly getting more spectacular, and the combinations are getting more extreme," says Judy Smith, a collector from Laverock and member of the African Violet Society of Philadelphia.

Breeders are chasing the elusive primrose-yellow violet and fragrance, as well as brighter colors, more and bigger flowers, and unusual leaves.

"You can't make a breakthrough every year, but we've always got to come up with something new," says Robinson.

That's certainly driving Drew Brining, a sports-loving boy who's unself-consciously fond of violets. His current fave, the fuchsia-pink, gold-streaked Ness' Fantasy Gold, sparks fantasies of creating his very own hybrid.

"There's literally millions of possibilities," he says.

If You Go

The African Violet Society of Philadelphia will host a violet show and sale this weekend at Lighthouse Fellowship United Methodist Church, 137 N. Easton Rd., Glenside.

The show runs

from noon to 5 p.m. tomorrow, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

For information, call 215-233-2579 or go to http://www.phillyviolets. org/

For information about other area clubs, including Springfield (Pa.), Burlington County, Southern New Jersey, and Garden State, go

to the African Violet Society of America's Web site (http://www.avsa.org/) and click on "Affiliates."

Read gardening writer Virginia A. Smith's blog at www.philly.com/philly/blogs/gardening

Contact garden writer Virginia A. Smith at 215-854-5720 or vsmith@phillynews.com.