Begonias at Hidden Lake Gardens

Begonia masoniana  Iron Cross Begonia

 Two weeks ago, we went to Hidden Lake Gardens in Tipton, MI. We were there during their annual Spring show.  You can see those pictures here. In past visits I have taken pictures of the begonia collection. I decided to share those in this post. Many of the begonias have Logee's Greenhouse tags in them. Logee's is a mail order nursery in Danielson, Conn. with a large begonia collection and many of them are represented at Hidden Lake. Another great mail order place is Kartuz Greenhouse. For really great information on begonias, visit Brad's Begonia World page .

Iron cross begonia

The iron cross begonia is a rhizomatous begonia, meaning it grows from stems, (rhizomes) that creep along on the surface of the soil. This type is easily grown from these rhizomes. Cut pieces of them, lay them on the surface of a container of moist soil, pressing them down into the soil a bit so that they have good contact. I use florist pins to pin them down, to ensure they are in contact with the soil. Roots will grow from the stem pieces and send up new leaves from the top side. If your rhizomatous begonias start defoliating, they are either cold sensitive or staying too wet. Most begonias have very shallow root systems, thus needing only a shallow pot. I find that clay pots work well and look good with the begonia foliage.

Begonia 'Mike's Mauve'

'Mike's Mauve' is a rex begonia. These begonias have extremely colorful leaves. Some of the mini rexes need to be kept in a terrarium because their requirements for humidity are so high. All rexes appreciate high humidity, so keeping them on a tray of wet pebbles is a great idea. Do not keep the soil overly wet and good air circulation is essential, as well.

Begonia listada

Begonia listada  is a species begonia, meaning it hasn't gone through hybridization, but is in its natural state as it would be in the wild. It is native to the far south of Brazil. Lisatada is derived from Spanish and means "striped" obviously referring to its leaves.                                

Begonia listada leaf

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'Northern Lights' begonia

'Northern Lights' is a rhizomatous begonia and I have one of these at home growing in a large shallow clay pot.

Eyelash begonia- Begonia bowerae

The Begonia bowerae is a rhizomatous begonia. It is a Mexican species, also called eyelash begonia because of the white hairs on the edges of the leaves that look like eyelashes. This is a small begonia that is perfect for a terrarium. 





Begonia x erythrophylla or beefsteak begonia is a very old variety that almost everyone has seen. This is one of those "Oh, my grandma grew one of those" plants. It was hybridized in the mid 1800's and it is quite often passed down through families, not unlike the Christmas cactus.'Bunchii' below is a cultivar of erythrophylla.

Begonia x erythrophylla 'Bunchii'

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Begonia 'Palomar Prince'

Begonia 'Black Velvet'

Begonia schmidtiana - Schmidt begonia

The Begonia schmidtiana, from Brazil, is a very hairy species. This is the species that the semperflorens begonia came from. It needs a warm, bright position out of direct sunlight.

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Begonia ricinifolia 'Immense'

Begonia ricinifolia 'Immense' is a rhizomatous begonia and this one is, as it's name implies, immense! I also have one of these at home, as well, but it isn't immense as this one. The hairy stems add more interest to the plant. Notice them in the picture below.

Begonia 'Immense'

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Begonia 'Chessun'

Begonia 'Di-erna'

The begonia 'Di-erna' is a cane type begonia. It was about 4' tall and had these beautiful large cluster of pink flowers hanging off it. 

Begonia 'Holley Beauty'

Begonia 'Holley Beauty'

As you have seen, begonias are a very colorful and most are easy to grow. I would try a rhizomatous begonia first, as they seem to be the easiest to grow. But, let me warn you now, you won't be able to stop at just one. Soon you'll have a collection of begonias. They are a very diverse group of plants and the more, the better!

The Unexpected Houseplant

I have recently read, for the second time, Tovah Martin’s book, The Unexpected Houseplant. It is a wonderful book! Tovah blurs the indoors and outdoors by using plants we wouldn’t normally think of as houseplants, thus the title. She brings in junipers, cypress, grasses and euphorbia, among other plants. She recently posted a picture of a salvia on Facebook that is blooming inside right now.  She especially loves bringing in spring plants for early blooms after the long New England winter. If you don’t like plants, don’t even bother visiting, she says,  because her house is full of them and they are her family. Amen, Tovah! Of course, we can't forget a very important member of her family. Einstein is her Maine Coon cat that plays a large roll in her house plant life, laying in them, batting at them, and sometimes even shredding them. But, everyone knows a cat is a must for plant lovers. At least this plant lover. I have three. We also have to me mindful, though, that there are many plants that are very poisonous for animals and humans alike. Choose your houseplant wisely.

“Intimacy with nature” is what Tovah is striving for and would like other people to feel the same by a hosting a houseplant or two (or hundreds) in their homes. She describes herself as a fanatic and a missionary, trying to rope us in. In her book, she describes over 200 plants that she is growing or has grown and had good luck with. She even likens her home to an oversize terrarium.  I love this quote, “Frankly, I don’t buy the “I don’t have a green thumb indoors” excuse for a botanically bereft home. Green thumbs aren’t in your genetic makeup. This myth is really just a rationale for attention deficit disorder in the botanical direction.” Again, Amen, Tovah!

 Go buy a plant, at the grocery store, on line, or at a nursery, she recommends, but only if it "tugs at your heartstrings". Don’t waste your time on a plant that really doesn't interest you. If someone gives you a plant and there is no "chemistry", throw it away.  The plant will not thrive without some tender loving care and an unhappy, neglected plant is an insect and disease magnet. 

Picture from Camp de Fiori website.

When you get your plant home, re-pot it in a wonderful container. A plastic pot is an unattractive plant home. Your plants deserve better. Tovah likens pots to picture frames- they make or break the picture. I always take my plants out of the plastic and plant them in a beautiful pot. In my case it quite often is bright green. I  love terra cotta pots, as well as glazed pots. They come in any color you need to match your décor. Campo de Fiori makes beautiful terra cotta pots and I've noticed in the book, Tovah likes them, too. 

Stephanotis- Madagascar Jasmine

Tovah includes a section on fragrant plants. She points out that winter is when "floral essences have their greatest impact". Being shut in all winter warrants some botanical perfume. She grows plants such as stephanotis, jasmine, and sweet olive. The starring role, though, goes to her South African bulbs. These include the pregnant onion, the climbing onion, (neither are onions, just look like them), and her favorite, Lachenalias. They all do their “thing” in the late fall and winter.

Begonia 'Black Truffle'

After working at Logee’s for 25 years, Tovah has a large collection of begonias. They are some of my favorites, also. Even though their flowers aren’t huge, they have a subtle beauty. She likens begonia blooms to finding a forgotten $20 bill. Even without the blooms, the foliage is amazing, but when the flowers rise above the foliage in the winter, it is sublime!

Begonia 'Marmaduke'

 

Begonia schmidtiana

 Tovah lived in a Victorian home for many years, but has moved into a home attached by a greenhouse to a converted barn. I also bought a home with a greenhouse attached, making an offer on it while my husband was out of town. The greenhouse sold me on the house the minute I walked in. My husband liked the house, but saw the greenhouse as a sunroom with a few plants and a nice table to have breakfast or coffee. Needless to say, there is barely room to walk through the room, much less have a table and chairs. Plants definitely took precedence when "decorating" the room. How could a person who loves plants pass up a home with an attached greenhouse? Tovah couldn't. I couldn't.

Amaryllis 'Prelude'

This book includes a section on holiday plants we all inevitably  receive during the holidays, excluding poinsettias. No poinsettias for Tovah. Cyclamen, schlumbergera, (my favorite), crown of thorns, and amaryllis are all discussed with great information for helping them survive past the holidays. 

Schlumbergera

I especially love the section on plants that she has tried that just don’t live in the house. I am so glad to see that someone else admits to not being able to grow a bougainvillea in their home. Me either! Heliotrope, abutilons, which I’ve tried to keep alive and looking good numerous times, to no avail, and hibiscus. I do have luck with hibiscus in the greenhouse in the winter, but they really just struggle along until I take them back outside in the Spring, occasionally sending out a bloom or two. But even a bloom or two can make my winter!

I truly enjoyed this book and know I will be reading it again. I've enjoyed all of Tovah’s previous books as well. A truly exciting day for me, was the day I went to a local greenhouse to hear her speak. I took all my books to be autographed. I was equally excited when she came to my area again a few years ago to lead a terrarium class. (See previous post about her terrarium book.)  Check that off my bucket list. (If I could meet Elvin McDonald, my bucket list would be a even shorter.) I have spent many hours with these two houseplant book authors,  reading their wonderful books. If you haven’t noticed, I love houseplants…..take it from Tovah and me, plants will enrich your life a thousandfold!