Garden Group Names 2024 'Year of African Violet'

2024-02-01

00:00 / 00:00
复读宝 RABC v8.0beta 复读机按钮使用说明
播放/暂停
停止
播放时:倒退3秒/复读时:回退AB段
播放时:快进3秒/复读时:前进AB段
拖动:改变速度/点击:恢复正常速度1.0
拖动改变复读暂停时间
点击:复读最近5秒/拖动:改变复读次数
设置A点
设置B点
取消复读并清除AB点
播放一行
停止播放
后退一行
前进一行
复读一行
复读多行
变速复读一行
变速复读多行
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1
  • The African violet, a plant from Tanzania that came to the U.S. in the late 1800s, received a special honor from the National Garden Bureau (NGB).
  • 2
  • The organization named 2024 "The Year of the African Violet."
  • 3
  • Other plants, flowers and vegetables for 2024 include: squash, Angelonia, lily, buddleia and hosta.
  • 4
  • Past years honored amaryllis, orchids and broccoli.
  • 5
  • Jessica Damiano is the garden writer for the Associated Press news service.
  • 6
  • She recently wrote about the African violet.
  • 7
  • Damiano said the violet has been one of the most popular house plants in the U.S. since it arrived. She said the plant, however, is not a violet.
  • 8
  • It only has the name because of its colorful, purple and white leaves.
  • 9
  • In fact, she noted, they are related to the Saintpaulia genus.
  • 10
  • They are named for German Walter von Saint Paul.
  • 11
  • The popularity of the plant is one reason why the NGB chose the violet as the "houseplant" of the year, said Diane M. Blazek, the organization's director.
  • 12
  • She said the plant's name has appeared over 300,000 times on social media.
  • 13
  • Beyond popularity, Blazek noted, the violets are easy to grow and people who breed flowers are working on creating new varieties.
  • 14
  • Blazek said, "they are coming through the pipeline."
  • 15
  • Blazek said people once thought of the violets as "Grandma's plants," or that they were no longer popular.
  • 16
  • But, she said, the violet "has not gone out of favor at all."
  • 17
  • The NGB started in 1920. The group aimed to give reliable gardening information to Americans, many of whom had only recently started growing plants at home.
  • 18
  • The founder was James Burdett.
  • 19
  • He helped develop the idea of "victory gardens."
  • 20
  • The gardens started during World War I as way for Americans to grow some of their own food.
  • 21
  • Today, the NGB continues the work started by Burdett.
  • 22
  • It recommends plants, flowers and vegetables each year.
  • 23
  • Many people like the African violet because it is easy to grow.
  • 24
  • It does not need direct sunlight; it does not need too much water and does not need a lot of fertilizer.
  • 25
  • However, it must receive special care to do extremely well.
  • 26
  • Blazek said the plants like moisture in the air. So, if you live in a very dry place, they might not do well.
  • 27
  • If you bring them inside during winter, Damiano suggests, you should run a device that adds moisture to the air - a humidifier - before you take them back outside.
  • 28
  • They need warmth but do not do well in high heat.
  • 29
  • Be sure to consider your climate before planting them.
  • 30
  • In spring and summer, Damiano said, if the plants are indoors, place them near a window that faces north or east.
  • 31
  • That way they do not get too much sun.
  • 32
  • In the winter, the plants may be placed closer to windows because the sun is not too strong at that time for people who live in mid-northern climates.
  • 33
  • Feed the plants only every two to three months.
  • 34
  • Be sure to use a fertilizer for African violets.
  • 35
  • And do not worry about their roots getting crowded by other plants - they like cozy pots.
  • 36
  • With good care, the violets may show their colors all year.
  • 37
  • I'm Dan Friedell.
  • 1
  • The African violet, a plant from Tanzania that came to the U.S. in the late 1800s, received a special honor from the National Garden Bureau (NGB).
  • 2
  • The organization named 2024 "The Year of the African Violet." Other plants, flowers and vegetables for 2024 include: squash, Angelonia, lily, buddleia and hosta. Past years honored amaryllis, orchids and broccoli.
  • 3
  • Jessica Damiano is the garden writer for the Associated Press news service. She recently wrote about the African violet.
  • 4
  • Damiano said the violet has been one of the most popular house plants in the U.S. since it arrived. She said the plant, however, is not a violet. It only has the name because of its colorful, purple and white leaves.
  • 5
  • In fact, she noted, they are related to the Saintpaulia genus. They are named for German Walter von Saint Paul.
  • 6
  • The popularity of the plant is one reason why the NGB chose the violet as the "houseplant" of the year, said Diane M. Blazek, the organization's director. She said the plant's name has appeared over 300,000 times on social media.
  • 7
  • Beyond popularity, Blazek noted, the violets are easy to grow and people who breed flowers are working on creating new varieties. Blazek said, "they are coming through the pipeline."
  • 8
  • Blazek said people once thought of the violets as "Grandma's plants," or that they were no longer popular. But, she said, the violet "has not gone out of favor at all."
  • 9
  • The NGB started in 1920. The group aimed to give reliable gardening information to Americans, many of whom had only recently started growing plants at home. The founder was James Burdett. He helped develop the idea of "victory gardens." The gardens started during World War I as way for Americans to grow some of their own food.
  • 10
  • Today, the NGB continues the work started by Burdett. It recommends plants, flowers and vegetables each year.
  • 11
  • Many people like the African violet because it is easy to grow. It does not need direct sunlight; it does not need too much water and does not need a lot of fertilizer. However, it must receive special care to do extremely well.
  • 12
  • Blazek said the plants like moisture in the air. So, if you live in a very dry place, they might not do well. If you bring them inside during winter, Damiano suggests, you should run a device that adds moisture to the air - a humidifier - before you take them back outside. They need warmth but do not do well in high heat. Be sure to consider your climate before planting them.
  • 13
  • In spring and summer, Damiano said, if the plants are indoors, place them near a window that faces north or east. That way they do not get too much sun. In the winter, the plants may be placed closer to windows because the sun is not too strong at that time for people who live in mid-northern climates.
  • 14
  • Feed the plants only every two to three months. Be sure to use a fertilizer for African violets. And do not worry about their roots getting crowded by other plants - they like cozy pots.
  • 15
  • With good care, the violets may show their colors all year.
  • 16
  • I'm Dan Friedell.
  • 17
  • Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press.
  • 18
  • ____________________________________________________
  • 19
  • Words in This Story
  • 20
  • genus -n. a group of plants or animals that is bigger than a species but smaller than a family
  • 21
  • breed -v. to raise animals and plants so they reproduce and have offspring with similar or better qualities
  • 22
  • variety -n. a different form of a similar group of things
  • 23
  • reliable -adj. able to be trusted or depended upon
  • 24
  • moisture - n. the amount of liquid in the air or in soil or in a piece of cloth
  • 25
  • fertilizer - n. food and nutrients made to help plants grow
  • 26
  • crowded - adj. a number of things together in a small space
  • 27
  • cozy - adj. comfortable, soft and close together
  • 28
  • We want to hear from you. Have you ever tried to grow African violets? What was your experience?