The Toronto Gesneriad Society
celebrates their 32nd anniversary with I Love The Whole World…I Love
Gesneriads, their annual gesneriad flower show, at Sherway Gardens
(Hwy 427 and the QEW) on Saturday, March 28 from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, and
Sunday, March 29 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm in Sherway Square.  The FREE show offers the public an
opportunity to see many rare and unusual plants and learn some growing tips
from the experts.  Call 416-621-1070 for more information or
visit www.sherwaygardens.ca or www.torontogesneriadsociety.org.

“I Love The Whole World…I Love Gesneriads,
is the annual judged show of the Toronto Gesneriad Society,”
states Beverley Williams, Entries Chairman, Toronto Gesneriad Society. “Toronto
Gesneriad Society members will be at the show to help new growers and
answer any questions they may have about growing gesneriads. It is a great
opportunity to purchase some plants that have been propagated and grown by
members.”

Some rare and exotic gesneriads, seldom seen in
florist shops or garden centres, and only available from other growers and
gesneriad societies, will be on display in Sherway Square. 

The Gesneriad family of plants –
pronounced either "jez-NARE-ee ad" or "guess-NARE-ee-ad" is
named for Swiss botanist Konrad Gesner. 
Native to the tropics and sub-tropics, these are "miracle
houseplants" with many that thrive in home growing conditions.  While the name "gesneriad" may not
be familiar, many of the most popular houseplants are in fact gesneriads.  There is a wide variety of plant sizes,
shapes, flowers and colours.

Gesneriads provide blooming plants throughout the
year and vary in size from that of the miniature Sinningia pusilla, the blossom
of which is seldom larger than a shirt button, to that of the trailing
Columnea, which if left to grow unchecked, could reach a length of 5 meters.
Most of them are of a manageable size and are known to the home grower as
African Violet (Saintpaulia), Florist Gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa),
Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus), Goldfish Plant (Nematanthus),
Cape Primrose (Streptocarpus) and Flame Violet (Episcia).

“It is always best to first determine how the plant
is to be grown, whether as a hanging basket, a potted plant, or as a terrarium
or dish garden subject; then select a gesneriad which is suited for the
particular effect,” adds Beverley Williams.

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