Denis Croteau, Hybridizer

By Alana

Denis Croteau of Club Violettes Longueuil in Quebec, Canada has hybridized some beautiful African Violets but little information about him has been available. To satisfy our curiosity, Dave Armstrong, the current club president has provided us with a few answers to our questions. Scenario, above.

Violet Voice: Can you give us any personal information about Mr. Croteau?

Dave: Mr. Croteau has been a life member of Club Violettes Longueuil since its founding in 1991 and is the club's "best hybridizer". He is a retired postman with a knack for horticulture and hybridizing is his hobby and passion.

Violet Voice: Mr. Croteau has an impressive 80 AV's listed in First Class 2, but there are several popular ones that are not listed, such as "Guest", "Pretty Miss Kelly", "Peace Maker", "Simon", "Sky of Mars" -- Will he be registering any of these?

Dave: As far as I know at this time, I don't think they will be registered because he has taken a break from violets for the past year - he is now hybridizing hibiscus -- but he gives us a hand now and then when he is needed.

Violet Voice: Mr. Croteau has named many of his AV's after people -- Lambert Closse for example is an early Quebec settler - do you know the story behind some of his other so-named plants?

Dave: Yes, one is named after his wife "Louise Croteau" and others like" Jean-Pierre Croteau","Lucien Croteau","Robert Croteau" and "Stephanie Croteau" are members of his family. "Dora Picard" is a very active member of our club and "Robert Mayer", another hybridizer like Denis, is an active member of our club. "Pretty Miss Kelly" is named after the wife of our recently deceased Club President, Mr. Michel Paradis, who was his best friend in our club

Violet Voice: Thank you, one of our members was looking for information on the AV, "Dora Picard" -- Is it available anywhere?

Dave: Well I have "Dora Picard" and it was a winner for me at our last year's show in the "Denis Croteau" category.

Note: (You may be able to arrange to obtain a leaf from Dave -- he belongs to the Canadian AVExchange on Yahoo http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Canadianavx/ -- You can contact him at darmstrong001@sympatico.ca )

Scenario, right.

Violet Voice: So, the African Violet Society of Canada ( http://www.avsc.ca/ ) gives a "Croteau" award?

Dave: Yes, his plants are winners and very florific, many are variegated.

Violet Voice: We only see a limited number of Mr. Croteau's plants available from most vendors, is there anywhere his plants are more readily available?

 Dave: Yes, they are available at our Club and our Show "A Visit to the Candy Store", which is coming up on April 26th 2003. Some of our members collect them and so do I. Alliance, left.

Note: (Bluebird Greenhouse has some "Croteau" varieties and we thank them for the use of their photos.)

Violet Voice: Do you have any tips for those wanting to try their hand at hybridizing?

Dave: First be very, very patient --- to hybridize you must first know what you are doing and must be very selective when screening your new hybrids. Please take photos of your plants before registering them or putting them on the market so they can be properly identified.

Violet Voice: Thank you, Dave, for satisfying our curiosity. Please pass on our thanks to Mr. Croteau and our admiration for the beautiful African Violets he has hybridized. We wish him the same success now that he is hybridizing hibiscus!

Dave: I'm sure he will be flattered when I tell him about this inquiry.

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