RORY: ‘Second, since you are already coming over to take care of my lawn, I was hoping you wouldn’t mind stopping inside and watering my African violets.’
African violets, several species of perennial flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae, native to Tanzania and south-eastern Kenya. They were introduced to Europe in the 19th century by a German district commissioner called Baron Walter von Saint Paul-Ilaire, and the flowers are given the scientific name saintpaulia in his honour. African violets are not closely related to true violets, although they have flowers which are often purple, and there is a superficial resemblance. They are a popular houseplant, as they flower for most of the year and are fairly hardy.
The Annotated Gilmore Girls 