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).
非洲紫罗兰是于19世纪晚期由坦桑尼亚传入美国的一种植物，其获得了美国国家公园局（NGB）的特别荣誉。
The organization named 2024 "The Year of the African Violet".
该组织将2024年命名为“非洲紫罗兰之年”。
Other plants, flowers and vegetables for 2024 include: squash, Angelonia, lily, buddleia and hosta.
2024年的其他植物、花卉和蔬菜包括：南瓜、香彩雀、百合、密蒙花和玉簪。
Past years honored amaryllis, orchids and broccoli.
在过去的几年里，人们尊崇孤挺花、兰花和西兰花。
Jessica Damiano is the garden writer for the Associated Press news service.
杰西卡·达米亚诺是美联社的园艺作家。
She recently wrote about the African violet.
她最近写了一篇关于非洲紫罗兰的文章。
Damiano said the violet has been one of the most popular house plants in the U.S. since it arrived.
达米亚诺说，非洲紫罗兰自传到美国以来一直是美国最受欢迎的室内植物之一。
She said the plant, however, is not a violet.
然而，她说这种植物不是紫罗兰。
It only has the name because of its colorful, purple and white leaves.
它之所以有这个名字是因为其多彩的、紫色和白色的叶子。
In fact, she noted, they are related to the Saintpaulia genus.
事实上，她指出，它们与非洲堇属有亲缘关系。
They are named for German Walter Von Saint Paul.
它们以德国人沃尔特·冯·圣保罗的名字命名。
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.
该组织的负责人黛安·M·布拉泽克说，这种植物的受欢迎程度是NGB选择非洲紫罗兰作为年度“室内植物”的原因之一。
She said the plant's name has appeared over 300,000 times on social media.
她说这种植物的名字在社交媒体上已经出现了30多万次。
Beyond popularity, Blazek noted, the violets are easy to grow and people who breed flowers are working on creating new varieties.
布拉泽克指出，除了受欢迎外，非洲紫罗兰很容易种植，繁育花卉的人正在努力培育新品种。
Blazek said, "they are coming through the pipeline." Blazek said people once thought of the violets as "Grandma's plants", or that they were no longer popular.
布拉泽克说：“它们即将面世。”布莱泽克说，人们曾经认为非洲紫罗兰是“上年纪的人种的植物”，或者说它们不再受欢迎了。
But, she said, the violet "has not gone out of favor at all".
但她说非洲紫罗兰“一点也没有失宠”。
The NGB started in 1920.
NGB成立于1920年。
The group aimed to give reliable gardening information to Americans, many of whom had only recently started growing plants at home.
该组织旨在为美国人提供可靠的园艺信息，其中许多人最近才开始在家里种植植物。
The founder was James Burdett.
该组织的创始人是詹姆斯·伯德特。
He helped develop the idea of "victory gardens".
他帮助发展了“胜利花园”的概念。
The gardens started during World War I as way for Americans to grow some of their own food.
胜利花园始于第一次世界大战期间，当时是美国人种植属于自己的食物的一种方式。
Today, the NGB continues the work started by Burdett.
如今，NGB继续着伯德特开启的工作。
It recommends plants, flowers and vegetables each year.
它每年都会推荐植物、花卉和蔬菜。
Many people like the African violet because it is easy to grow.
许多人喜欢非洲紫罗兰，因为它容易种植。
It does not need direct sunlight; it does not need too much water and does not need a lot of fertilizer.
它不需要阳光直射，不需要太多的水，也不需要太多的肥料。
However, it must receive special care to do extremely well.
然而，它必须得到特别的照顾才能长得非常好。
Blazek said the plants like moisture in the air.
布拉泽克说，这种植物喜欢空气中的水分。
So, if you live in a very dry place, they might not do well.
所以，如果你住在一个非常干燥的地方，它们可能不会生长得很好。
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.
达米亚诺建议，如果你在冬天把它们带到室内，在你把它们挪回户外之前，你应该启动一个增加空气湿度的设备——加湿器。
They need warmth but do not do well in high heat.
它们需要温暖的环境，但在高温下长得不好。
Be sure to consider your climate before planting them.
在种植它们之前，一定要考虑到你那里的气候。
In spring and summer, Damiano said, if the plants are indoors, place them near a window that faces north or east.
达米亚诺说，在春季和夏季，如果这种植物要放在室内，就把它们放在朝北或朝东的窗户附近。
That way they do not get too much sun.
这样他们就不会接受太多的阳光。
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.
在冬天，这种植物可能会被放置在离窗户更近的地方，因为对于生活在中北部气候的人来说，那个时候的阳光不是很强烈。
Feed the plants only every two to three months.
每两到三个月给植物施肥一次。
Be sure to use a fertilizer for African violets.
一定要给非洲紫罗兰施肥。
And do not worry about their roots getting crowded by other plants - they like cozy pots.
不要担心它们的根会被其他植物挤到——它们喜欢舒适的花盆。
With good care, the violets may show their colors all year.
只要悉心照料，紫罗兰一年四季都能绽放出鲜艳的色彩。
I'm Dan Friedell.
丹·弗里德尔为您播报。
用户评论