I still do not have my photos organized. I keep leaving home and making more.
My favorite stop was at Mike's place Gazebo. It is such a fun place. I was so excited I kept forgetting to take pictures. There is so much to see there tucked in here and there. I so want to go there on my own, not part of a group so my excitement level will be lower and I can think more clearly.
Mike has it organized into beautifully and artfully composed rooms all highlighting begonias.
My favorite begonia of the trip was found there at Gazebo.
I saw it from a few feet away and as I approached it I thought I am buying this one for sure. I started taking photos of it, part of my courtship.
A few away Mike was holding court with other begonia maniacs. At first I was so mesmerized by my find I wasn't listening to them. Soon however, maybe even as I my hand went out to claim my newly found prize, I realized the begonia I thought was to be mine was actually a very rare one destined to be shown in the convention show. I was so sad. So close yet so far away. LOL
Last year when I was there I fell in love with 2 begonias, Gazebo, a dotted cane and Red a sport from Fred. The unattainable Gazebo was all the rage last year with people swooning over it and wanting it. This year I found a very nice Gazebo sitting there for sale so this year I got that one in my needy clutches.
Angel Glow does glow. The object of my desire.
Kell,
I'm so glad you got a picture of 'Angel Glow'. I saw it on my third and last pass down an aisle I hadn't visited. Unfortunately 'Angel Glow' is one I did not take a picture of so I'm so glad to see yours.
The place is so packed that you can't see everything in one pass anyway. Warning for claustrophobics - space is very limited to move about.
'Angel Glow' needs to be propagated by tissue culture so all begonia addicts can get one. It should be plant of the year.
Butch, I know I took some more photos of it at the show too but I can't find them just now. I am late to meet Patricia for a plant day so I am off. I will look when I get back. The one above I took at Gazebo. Wasn't I funny to think it was for sale and that no one else would have bought it all day as it sat there. LOL Magical thinking for sure.
I'm really amazed that you didn't sneak a cutting of it out in one of your hiding spots.
Hmm, I'm trying to remember it at the show. I don't remember names and don't take time to get pictures of name cards either. Would this be it?
one of your hiding spots
Hey Naughty Sue, are you home yet? We have missed you!!! Let me know where you post trip pics so I can live vicariously!!
Butch, YES that is Angel Glow. My picture from the show picked up turquoise color. How weird is that? The leaves had such an intense sheen.
As plant crazed as I am, I could never lift a leaf from a show plant or a plant of a friend. Friday night I was in the show room all by myself. I was taking pictures in the back and they came in and cleared everyone out and locked the door. I guess I am so petite they didn't see me. I could have gone nuts on all sorts of leaves! It never even occurred to me. Shoot. LOL
However, I sure can stuff my bodice with seedpods especially when I have a so nice accomplice with baby blue eyes and a quick smile who is so tall he can reach up.
Sue, I had a few of these tucked in that hiding place. I looked a bit lumpy and after a few minutes when I started to itch, I looked like I had bugs too.
Here is Red Fred. My true love. I saw this last year at Mike's house and I heard angels sing. It has just gotten better with time.
Yes, I am home and had too much work already and getting over a bad cold we both came down with the last week while in Yellowstone. I'll send a link for some Picasa photos soo.
Yikes Kell, what the heck seed pod is that and why would you stuff them in that hiding place?!!
Thanks for the name on that one at the show, Kell. I saw the turquoise in those leaves (I'd probably just say blue). It usually is not present to the naked eye but with a flash a lot of begonia leaves show some blue.
Here is a great example of 'Black Coffee' with some blue in it. I have some others that are too weird to even post.
(Be careful of stuffing strange leaves in your clothes - it might be poison ivy mixed in with a desirable plant one day).
I love the blue in both pics. Really jumps out at you in the photo's.
LOL
Kell, I laughed out loud thinking of you stuffing your bra with seed pods and your tall accomplice.
Susan, I call it my handbag for I do not carry a real one because it puts my back out. Everything goes in there. So true!!
I hadn't realized that begonias show so much blue. So is blue in the leaves and the flash brings it out or is a figment of the camera's imagination?
Here is a minute part of Ades and Gish, begonia heaven. Makes you all hot and bothered doesn't it? And to think we could have had every begonia there.
Kell,
Supposedly the blue is actually there but our eyes just don't pick it up. I think I've only seen it using flash but it seems to happen only with begonias. Weird, huh?
Great view of A&G. I didn't take many pictures there. I was too involved picking out plants. It would've been nice to visit some of the other greenhouses but we just didn't have enough time there.
Were these super large plants for sale, or just a sample to show you their ultimate size?
A lady I once did antique shows with stuffed her show cash in her bra, and I could always tell how she was doing by the size of her upper measurement. Lol.
Tussee
A lot of big ones were for sale. It would be hard to stuff them in a suitcase unless you were just buying one or two. Kell, show a picture of your 'Madame Queen' you bought there and any other big ones you picked up.
Hey Butch,
I am the event chairman for our local Garden Club and needed a speaker for our meeting last night. I used to belong to the OC chapter of the Begonia Club, and I used to carpool with one of the top members. Her name is Margaret Fisher and she was the Director of the Convention this year.
I emailed her and asked if she would give a short talk about Begonias and she happily accepted my invitation. She talked about the different kinds of begonias and their care and also brought some of her specimens to show us. It's amazing that many of our members didn't know about all the different types and had a lot of questions. She also included some information about the convention and how it was a great turnout, along with it having the largest amount of entries for the show. Julie Newmars place was also mentioned. It was a wonderful evening, and I couldn't thank her enough.
I mentioned to her that I had some DG friends that had come to the convention from far and wide. When I mentioned your name, Butch, she thought she might know of you. Did you get to meet her? She is a short, very energetic lady and has short grey hair.
I also asked her if she knew of Lali, but she couldn't put her face to her name. I don't have Lali's last name, so that didn't help.
I don't live that far from where you had the show. I wish I had known you all would have been there, I would have taken the time to come meet you all.
Glad you had a wonderful time. BTW, where the heck is Lali now? She hasn't posted here in the forum since the show?
I still love all of my begonias, but I can't seem to like just one type of species of plants, so I just grow everything I like. lol
Donna
Hi Donna,
I don't remember meeting Margaret but the name seems familiar (probably from the Begonian?) I remember my first reaction when I saw all the different types of begonias on the web - "Wow, that's a begonia?" I got hooked after that.
I haven't heard from Lali either in a few weeks. I know she went to Hawaii shortly after the LA convention and is busy with the SF arboretum - probably starting hundreds of begonias.
The annual convention is not widely advertised which is a shame. The best way to find out up and coming events is to be a member of the ABS and receive their little magazine every other month, check in at the ABS site (although it didn't even advertise the convention if I remember right but promises to be a much better site in the future), and check this forum often. The next convention is in Houston, May 14-18. You should plan on coming if you want to get some interesting begonias.
I know what you mean about growing all types of plants. My other favorites are cactus and succulents, ferns, tropicals (at least the ones that can be grown in a container), and many oddball garden plants.
Butch
Some more begonias at Kartuz.
Hey Butch,
Glad to see you checking in again.
I did belong to the ABS for almost 2 years, that's how I met Margaret. I really wanted to learn about growing begonias, so I joined the local chapter, but I felt I was over my head in that chapter. There were so many knowledgeable growers, and hybridizers in that group, and I felt like I just didn't fit in. I'm thinking of joining another chapter, maybe I'll be able to learn more.
I haven't been down to Katuz's nursery, but he did come to one of our meeting to give a talk and brought some beautiful begonias for sale. That always the "plus" of belonging to a begonia club, you get some awesome plants. :-)
That is a lovely picture above too.
Donna
Hello Donna,
Don't let the experts intimidate you - bear with them through the boring stuff and pick their brains for the stuff that interests you. Lucky you - you have the majority of begonia chapters in CA. so if one doesn't suit you, then you can see what another one has to offer.
I joined our local group more than two years ago. Some of it can be very boring but I've learned a lot and also gotten quite a few freebies and cheap ($1 to $2) plants (proceeds go back into the local chapter) so it has been beneficial overall. If I had joined in Jan last year, I may have quit right after that meeting since that was the most boring meeting I think I ever went to.
Here are a few new ones I've gotten this year either through the local club or eBay.
Great pic Butch and a lovely assortment of Begonia's. Love the variety
Begonia's offer, something for everyone. All in all, ny favorite plants.
So true, begonias are so varied there is one for everyone's taste.
Here is a fancy rex I got at the show.
the leaf
A beautiful rex Kell.
What's the name of it Kell? It is a beauty.
Tornado. I gave it away too. Killed me. I should look to see if the couple leaves I started took. A friend of mine has a partner who loves begonias with that sinus curl and he is so sick, I sent it to him. He needed some cheering up and a pretty plant especially one unknown, is so exciting to get to those of us with our disease. So it went to a better home and I still get to visit it thru pictures. And this way, it will never die on me
