Lets liven things up a bit, shall we.

I think this is Blue Wings.

'Alma Crawford'.

Cowardly Lion, Wild Pony? You be the judge. This was bought at HD last fall.

'Pattern' and two curly silver unknowns.

Mom and kid are the same plant, one is growing in my greenhouse and one (first photo) one at strybing. But they are the same. I think the difference is the growing environment, but since I brought the cutting down there I'm pretty sure. I'll save a baby for you since I just potted up the cuttings I had to whack off the falling over mom.

I think I may have both of your Pattern and Alma, or at least my noids are similar.

What about Marmaduke, does it look like the CL or WP? I can't recall but seems to me it was similar. You have it too dont you?

Here's your Earl-EE-Bee-Yea-Right (I think that's what it's labeled) you sent me last year along with a noid (in the back) and b. parvaflora front left
(plectranthus Troy's Gold in front along with a sickly 'Mirage')

Hey Sue, heading down to your place with my garden shears for that new Longs beauty!

This message was edited Aug 14, 2006 11:30 AM

Poor maculata crispa, it's 'crispa' alright. Look what that heat wave did.

Norma Grimm took a beating too.

Could this be 'Kismet'? It never had a name tag. Still the same size it was when I brought it home from PHOE =º(

This is Caribbean Islands. Kind of small because I've taken several cuttings.

Bat Wing (or Bat Wings) cant find it in the data base. Hmmm?

No, that isn't Earl. The one you show is the one that was suppose to be crassicaulis but clearly isn't but gets quite large. Not sure if that last one is Kismet but it sure has nice markings. Was this 'Thin Ice'?

Marmaduke is speckled and doesn't look like WP or CL. Are you thinking of Northern Lights?

I want to see your parviflora (parvafolia?) when it matures. If it is what I've seen of parviflora, then save the seed.

I think the parvifolia is small and the parviflora is large. Check out the database at abastro.

Here's a picture of parviflora blooming.

http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/plantguides/view.asp?chkbox=1192

Earl is the big "star" begonia in this group. (At least it was sold as Earl).

MRS. LUDWIG'S BEEN FOUND! hiding under some overgrown babies.

Sorry for the blurry photo.

So glad you found Mrs. Ludwig. My collection is still so small no one here goes missing. If a friend takes a real special interest in one of my begonias, however, I give it away and then months later wonder where it went. :) B. Baby Dress

Tussee

Another one that just came thru the mail - not a leaf damaged.

B. Lorraine Closson

Tussee

I've been wanting B. Shamus for some time, and finally found it. One on ebay sold for $18.00. Too much for me to pay and then maybe give it away.

B. Shamus

Tussee

I have this one by my back door so I can see it coming and going. I love it!

B. Raspberry Crush

Tussee

Thanks Butch, I keep making that same mistake. Need to change it's tag.

The parvaflora (my bad,not parvafolia duh!) has more than tripled in size since I got it. I should send you a cutting, it's already the fastest growing begonia I have, even more than the Dragon Wings which are so weedy.

Must say is looks alot like one we grow at the arboretum just titled 'thick stem' but I was reading through Mark's book on the group related to parvafolia and it might be that these two (mine and the arboretum one) are vitifolia (syn reniformis?) I'll have to go back and look at the book again.

I doubt mine will ever get that big. (we can dream right!) because of our weather. And until it blooms, I can't say for sure that it IS parvaflora. I think it really might be one of the others.

Cowardly Lion wasn't looking his old self this spring so I potted him up in a much larger pot and he has thanked me by spreading out to a little over three feet. Still my favorite and still growing.

B. Cowardly Lion

Tussee

Super ! Tusse, thanks for showing us those. Dont you just love Shamus. I first saw Butch's and then of course had to have one. When I placed an order with Rob's violets, I added another 'just in case' since I love it so much! I also got 'baby dress' which is a neat one. I thought it might do better in the terrarium so I put it in there yesterday.
LOVE Raspberry crush!

Here's b. 'Morocco'

Cowardly Lions, Tigers and Bears - OH MY! what a nice specimen!! mine is about half a leaf now. It's not happy.

Here's 'Tiny Tim' a little blurry

Naughty begonia mom needs to repot a b. poponoei! Poor thing!

It's got pretty large leaves too.

b. withlacoochee went into a basket this year.

here's the photo I tried. not sure what went wrong.

also started part II in the interest of those on dial up. http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/639311/

Maybe one of you Begonia gurus can tell me what this is. Just starting my collection again after many years. Finally moved to a house with proper exposure. Thanks for the great pics and info.
Viv

Love those large leaves - a powerful presence.

Tussee

Sure is a nice one Vizz8!! Butch may know it.

Vizz,

It looks like 'Raspberry Swirl'. It and 'Raspberry Crush' are nice rexes and can be had from Logees.

Here are some pictures late last October of both. 'Raspberry Swirl' which has gone to compost heaven in late winter. The green one in the left hand corner is 'Needham' (it may be gone too), acida to the right of it, 'Deco Twirl' in the right corner, and 3 other little rexes picked up locally. The one between Swirl on the left and Crush on the right is sold as 'Raspberry Crush' too but there is a big difference between the two as you can see.

It could be raspberry swirl, thanks, I picked these up at Lowe's 70% off sale a few weeks back.. they looked awful.. but have come back well. Thanks for the ID

Viv

I wish the big 3 (Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and Lowe's) would carry a good cross section of the top 100 (or more) begonias but they are in business and probably don't sell that many begonias (besides tuberous, wax, and Dragon Wings). Every once in a while you will stumble across some nice ones there but it is rare.

Here are some nice rexes I found at Home Depot and a local nursery last year.

Every now and then I find a good one at the big stores. I would rather lose one from there. Less $'s lost. As I said I am just now starting to get back into collecting again. I lived in a house for twentyfive years, with little or no light, up agaist a southern hill. Lost the light about mid Oct. and got it back about mid April, with just a few hours inbetween. It burned down and we moved to a location with lots and lots of sun.. and real good exposure. (silver linning). I now have a wonderful garden site, and love it!!! I'm hoping to get a GH this fall, and will extend my growing season.
Thanks for all the great pics, and ID's.
Viv

I don't usually have much to say about begonia, I am usually a begonia killer. Every now and again I see one that I wish I had in the garden. Here is one from Selby Botanical Garden in Sarasota that had no tag. This is the color variation of green that I love.

dale,

Looks like Caribbean Queen in a way. Here is mine from last year. I'm still waiting on it to fill out this year.

Caribbean Queen is a honey - another name to the list!

Viv, what a lovely scene. Do you have a comfortable chair in the area to just sit back and enjoy?

Tussee

Major green with envy on those Caribbean Queens! Sigh!!!

Vizz, what a nice oasis you have there! TFS!

Thanks I really injoy my little jungle, and yes I have a chair. Every morning with my coffee, and peanuts for the squirrles. I know I should'nt incourage them but I kinda like them.
Viv

I've really enjoyed all the pictures of your begonias. Sorry I've been busy and haven't posted any pictures here in a long while. I'll get busy this weekend and post em. Keep em coming!

Viv, everyday from early winter until May, we place an ear of corn on a stand made for feeding squirrels. In the summer they come and peer through the glass kitchen door letting us know they would like some bread. We enjoy them even if they sometimes cause problems.

Tussee

Finally got a chance to check in here - some gorgeous Begonias here!

Lali, I love that B. pollux!!

thanks Debbie, just glad I was able to revive the poor thing.

Off to play in the begonia patch at the arboretum today. You all have a marvelous Wednesday!