ABS show in Houston

I will be attending the ABS show in Houston in May and was wondering if anyone has been to their shows before. Is it a big show? Are there venders that sell begonias? I'm very excited and look forward to attending this show.

The last two shows had a good representation of begonias but it wasn't overwhelming (for instance the one in L.A. last year could be viewed in 5 to 15 minutes depending on how long you stopped at each begonia). I think it's more about the sales, visiting gardens (and vendors), meeting like minded people, etc. The one thing about the convention is you will get an opportunity to get lots of begonias in one trip. Bring your checkbook or cash because a lot of the events (especially the sales booth) do not take credit cards (as long as there is an ATM machine close by, it wasn't a huge deal to me but be forewarned).

That's what I wanted to hear, hcmc. I had a huge Persian Brocade begonia which I had to give away when I moved. I purchased it when it was huge and can't seem to find any big ones. Hopefully there will be large speciman begonias along with the 3inch pot ones that that one can find over the internet. I will be prepared wil checks and $$ in hand. Thanks for the info.

There could be some big plants but typically most are on the smaller side since most people are buying lots of begonias and need to pack them for the plane ride home.

There were some huge ones at Ades&Gish last year for a mere $20 but I'd hate to cram a big one into a suitcase. You can also pack them and mail them to yourself (provided you have time to get to the post office or UPS). Some of the vendors will ship them to you for a small fee (may be well worth it). I think Palm Hammock did that at the Miami show for around $20.

Now that the airlines are getting really cheap (not the tickets but the service) it makes you wonder if you'd be better off by shipping the plants separately. Delta and others are supposedly charging an extra $25 per bag (you get one free bag) one way. That means $50 round trip if you have two bags for check in. I wonder how many carry on bags they still allow and if they charge for those too.

Oh yeah, I meant to tell ya, I am actually moving to the Houston area end of this month so this ABS show is a real blessing. Can you believe it? Someone is on my side!!! I don't think I would have been able to afford to fly and all that. I'll check out Ades and Gish though.

I'll be in zone 9a so am looking to grow some tropicals and such that I can't here. My begonias will be outide in the shade most of the year. I will miss my cottage garden though. Some of my very favorites plants won't grow in that hot heat. Lilacs, peonies, lily-of-the-valley, poppies, certain bulbs, etc, etc,.....oh well

You will be able to buy as many large begonias as you want since you will be living there. With all the cancellations of the airlines recently, it may affect a lot of travel plans. It's got me wondering whether to book the convention or not.

Ades & Gish is wholesale to CA only but it never hurts to inquire. Kartuz does mail order though and is not that far away from Ades & Gish.

Now you will be able to grow tropicals on one hand but you will have to give up cool weather plants on the other hand. Why can't it ever be easy? Gardening is not without its challenges.

I heard on the news that things with the airlines should be back to normal by tomorrow night. Which really means.. delays as usual. It would be a shame to miss the show for that reason.

Hi everybody. I don't have any Begonias yet, but am interested in getting some Rex types for my porch and am currently reading up to see what I'm getting myself into. I live in the Southwest Houston area (Sugar Land).

Is this Houston show open to the public? Could I go to the sale only, or is it an all or nothing deal?

Thanks!

Valerie

It may be open to the public after the members have their chance. I think Miami did it that way. I would think the local branch would want to sell everything they can but ABS members should be given first shot. Maybe you can contact the local chapter and see how they work it.

Thanks, I'll do that!

When in May? Have I missed it? If not, does anyone have a flyer for the Houston show?

American Begonia Society National Convention 2008

May 14—18, 2008
Houston, TX

Houston is furiously making things ready for the ABS Convention 2008. You know you can count on Texas hospitality and lots of begonias. The Sheraton Brookhollow is the hotel, and it is halfway between our two major airports. Mark your calendars for May 14 though May 18. Ya'll come and see us.

http://www.begonias.org/events/events.htm

Looks like I found it.

Susan (Buns)

Good to see you found it Susan. I wish they had the times of the tours posted (I think I saw something on the Yahoo site that they start at 9). I hope I don't miss the Wednesday tour since I paid for it but thought it might start later in the day (BBQ would be bad for breakfast, right?) and am flying in that day.

I think BBQ would be great for breakfast (or pretty much any other time!) LOL It looks like you are going to have a great time!

RE: the Houston ABS Convention

I'm had to work for most of the week and only made it to the actual show and sale (which fit into 2 conference rooms).

HOWEVER-- the plants in show were such a wide gorgeous selection of plants it brought some tears.

There were a good many different type of categories.

The usual begonia families (cane, trailing, semi-tuberous, etc) were represented.

Closed vivariums, some with single plants others with miniature landscapes.

Another interesting category was 'Most Creative Planting Containers'.

The winners of the show, were, to these rather unsophistated eyes, nearly perfect. First in Show went to a semi-tuberous 'dregei var (i forget)'. It looked like a bonsai and was nicely shaped and covered with small white flowers.

I bought 6 or 7 4" pots and brought them on the plane. Airport security man-handled them a bit running their hands through the bag but everyone is home in Ft. Lauderdale with new growth started- hot and humid here now.

2009 show will be in Palm Beach and I was told by members in Houston that it will be FABULOUS. PB is close to home, so i'll rent a truck : )

The show and sales rooms were a lot, lot bigger than the ones in L.A. last year. The 4 inch plants were also $4 a piece. It's a shame the baskets were so large else I might have bought one especially of 'Martin's Mystery'. I did buy a very large 'Paul Hernandez' in a six inch pot for only $6. It is now in a 18 inch pot. I ended up with 26 at the sales room but also bought a few at Bill Claybaugh's house earlier in the day and two teeny tiny plants at the seminar Thursday night where they were auctioned off.

The one nice thing about this convention was the timing for more temperate weather growers. This gives us the whole summer to grow the new plants to a good size before winter whereas the convention last year in L.A. was in September and only gave us a few weeks before moving them indoors.

Here are some exhibit plants outside the show room. This is sizemorea.

Some of the Henthornes' terrariums.

One of several recently planted B. 'Paul Hernandez' at the Mercer Arboretum.

B. bogneri at the show. Looks like grass.

One of the displays about the hotel with 'Flamingo Queen' and 'Maurice Amey' in it.

This was a very large 'Martin's Mystery' at Cheryl Lenert's house the first day. The baskets they were selling at the sales room were fairly large too.

Great pics! Thanks for sharing them.
Hubby & I went too!! I came home with 24~ 4inchers of Canes & Rexs and of course a huge basket of Mrs Ludwig in bloom.
I love your pic of the terrarium table...I almost cried when I saw them all. I came home with renewed interest and ideas galore.

I was amazed at how cold those rooms were, did you notice that???


Enjoyed the show!
MsC

The rooms felt comfortable to me - temp wise.

I bought 'Mrs. Ludwig' two years ago at the Miami National Convention. So far it hasn't bloomed for me but the leaf texture, shape, and color is all I want anyway. Thanks for reminding me about some of the other baskets.

Here she is last July with lots of sun exposure.

Here is Mrs. Ludwig back in March under fluorescent lights. Amazing how the color changes due to light exposure. I should have cut off the damaged leaf but...

Dear hcmcdole,

Do you know where I can buy a B. sizemorea. I've googled and looked at Daves garden but can't find a vendor. Does it mean I have to wait until next year ABS to get one?
Rosalie

I do not know where you can buy sizemorea (I got one from our local chapter).

Here is a place that has it - Glasshouse Works. They are slow but if you have to have it, then it is worth a try. They have it listed as Begonia Species U388 (the old name). It is $10 before shipping.

http://www.glasshouseworks.com/trop-b2.html#

You can also do a daily check on eBay to see if it gets listed there. Some sellers do not list it as sizemorea but rather Vietnam begonia, U388, or longiciliata.

Hi Hcmcdole,
Thanks for the tip. My credit had a nice meal at Glasswork...

Great pics Butch. I sure would love to go to the Palm Beach show.

Great pics Butch. I'm glad you were able to go to the convention.
I've had my hands full fighting mildew for the first time in
over 20 yrs. I got careless this past
winter when the days were so cold and dreary. Spilled water on the lvs
of Maurice Amey and that's all it took. I cut many of them down to the nubs
so less area to cover with the spray. This wouldn't have
happened if I had remembered to replace my burned out oscillating fan.
What a mess.

Jackie

Kell, will we see you next year?

Jackie, sorry to hear about the mildew. I thought mildew and begonias was a way of life. Not that I've given up on the thin leaf canes but I think they are best treated as annuals for me due to mildew and no great place to put them in winter. The good news is Home Depot had gorgeous 8 inch pots last year for the unbelievable price of $4. I'm hoping they do the same thing this year.

One of the houses on the tour had some nice begonias and staghorn ferns at one of their entrances.

You never know Butch. I love that entry way. I love staghorns. I wonder which ones they are. What are the 2 HUGE begonias in that pic?

The one on the left is probably U308 (or 309 depending on who is right) and I think the other one might've been Holly Moon or something like that.

Those were some cool ferns too.