October 2007
Begonia Society
Of the Palm Beaches
Presidents Message
Late at night or early in the morning, there’s a charming hint of autumn in the air. Then, when the sun comes out from behind the thunderclouds and the sea breeze kicks in, the air seems crisper. Plants in the garden look perkier and the gardener too, even though the days of “work a little, sit a little and drench yourself with the garden hose” are not over.
Begonia gardeners begin to think about lots of new plants. It seems we’re much more likely to be enticed into new acquisitions when the weather invites us to put them into the ground, not in the “holding area” on the porch.
Patt Lindsay’s orchid potting and care demonstration in September certainly brought out the compliments from our hands-on gardeners. Thank you, Patt, for giving us just what we like.
Brenda Skaggs’ varied array of raffle plants was indeed tempting, especially that variegated little-leafed vanilla vine. I always look forward to the member’s plants for sale. It’s so nice to have such a choice. All of us who have a green thumb are welcome to bring in a table-load or just the cuttings from one bed to sell. We invite and urge those of you who have give-away plants or cuttings to root through your garden before coming to our meeting. Collecting can be a dirty job, but think how many members you make happy.
I had a long chat with Gene Joyner, who’s out of surgery, doing well, and expecting to be back at the Garden shortly. We talked about his Unbelievable Acres tours, and he’s hoping that once the weather cools down, he’ll have more visitors. It’s a wonderful garden to take our visitors too, and can be included in the visit to show off Mounts. Some of us may not realize Gene opens his nursery during his tours, and will also open it upon request. He’s got a great variety of plants and is always generous with cuttings and stuff.
At the last meeting Doris Happel not only donated the badge begonia, won by Vivien Schwartz, but also helped out at the podium. Refreshments came from Jim and Candy Curran, Debra Rosen and punch from me. My grateful thanks to you all.
When giving a gift, you can do as an eight-year-old I know does: when it’s suggested that her granny may not like the child’s choice, it’s Everyone knows it’s the thought that counts!” When the Begonia Society gave Charles Jaros a collecting trip to Thailand in recognition and thanks for his continuing support of the Palm Beach Branch, we were sure he’d like our choice. Charles will be talking about this trip at the October meeting, telling and showing us what he saw and found. Charles, we’re looking forward to it.
Donnie Brown
October Meeting
On Monday, October 8, at 7 p.m., Charles Jaros, will show slides and discuss his trip to Thailand. Wonderful begonias and exotic plants abound as do great markets..
Refreshments will be provided by Hilary Berman, Linda Desanti, Linda and Frank Marshall
Raffle Table by Paton White.
Exchange Table: Everyone can participate. Bring a begonia or other shade-loving plant. Take a ticket, and by luck of the draw, you will get to select a plant from the table. Please bring a plant that you would be proud to grow in your own garden. This is not the place to get rid of something that you would otherwise throw out. See next item.
Free Stuff – Sometimes there can be too much of a good thing. If you find that situation while you are gardening, bring the excess cuttings or plants for the “Free” table.
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF
SEPTEMBER 10, 2007
The meeting was called to order by the President, Donnie Brown, at 7:40 p.m. There were three new members present: Robin Deyarmond, Gloria and David Bass. The Treasurer, Abe Hirschberger, gave his report.
New Business:
-It was brought to the members’ attention by Christine Rainbolt, the Master Gardener Extension Agent, that the County Commissioners, due to the “budget crunch”, were considering the complete elimination of the Co-Op Extension Service as of October 1, 2007. The Service includes Family and Consumer Sciences, FYN, Master Gardener Program, 4-H Program, among others. The meeting for their decision is scheduled for September 20 at 6 p.m. at the Government Center. All were urged to either attend the meeting or contact the Commissioners expressing their views on this matter.
-We were told that Mary Holt, a long time Board Member, etc. of the Friends of the Mounts had died. A Memorial Service is to be held on Wednesday, September 12 at 9:30 a.m. at which time a Bulnesia tree would be planted in her memory.
-Donnie announced that it was decided to hold an upscale rummage sale during the Mounts Spring Plant Sale. She will be chairing this event and asked for donations of items that can be sold for $10 and up and volunteers.
-Doris Happel spoke on behalf of the Nominating Committee. They have come up with a suggested slate of candidates, as follows: Donnie Brown (Summer) and Nancy Cohen (Winter) co-Presidents, Shawna Price-Vice President, Maria Mitsinicos-Treasurer, Sandy Sklar-Recording Secretary, Doris Happel-Corresponding Secretary and Peggy Fratas as National Representative. If anyone wants to either nominate another candidate or volunteer to serve in any position, please contact the Nominating Committee: Norma Grimm, Donnie Brown Nancy Cohen, and Toni White.
-As in previous years, Rekha Morris requested financial assistance for her plant finding expedition to India. It was moved by Doris Happel and seconded by Jim Curran that we send her $100. The motion was passed.
There being no other business, the meeting was turned over to Doris Happel who introduced the evening’s speaker, Patt Lindsey, who spoke about Orchids.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Maria Mitsinicos, Recording Secretary
My Summer Vacation
Johanna Kitson
Los Angeles Begonia Convention –2007
The Begonia Convention held in Los Angeles last month was beyond my expectations. The tours to Lotus Land ( the Getty Museum, and the Huntington ( were eye popping.
Lotus Land was the private 37-acre garden of Ganna Walska. She was a young girl in the 1920’s and passed away in 1984 leaving the property as a nonprofit educational institution. It opened to the public in 1993. Every corner you look around holds another surprise and delightful garden. It holds the second best cycad collection in the world (Italy has the first). Succulents -- mostly cactus, agaves, and aloes -- abound in massive beds around a house and in acre beds of their own. One 100-foot walkway was covered with latticework that had lemon trees espaliered the entire length. Some of the begonias grew up to our shoulders and many leaves were two feet across. They grew in semi-shady places where their roots were at home in the leaf litter of the many oak trees. Begonia ‘Lotus Land’ was one of the biggest ones and is available at Palm Hammock Orchid Estate in Miami, in case anyone is interested in purchasing one. Mine has been growing in the back yard for over four years and seems very happy in our Florida climate. With a name like Lotus Land you would expect ponds with water lilies. Yes, there are several. In one case Madame Walska built her pool in between two lily ponds so she could smell the lotuses as she swam. She was married six times and outlived most of her husbands. In the other cases, she was a good housekeeper, i.e., she kept them.
The Getty Villa in Malibu, California, just finished a ten-year renovation. The property is a replica of the Villa dei Papiri, a Roman country house in Herculaneum buried in the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 70. Whereas this was on the tour just as a wonderful place to visit, it had nothing to do with begonias or plants. However, the grounds were beautifully landscaped and the lily pond areas were ablaze with color. The gallery was filled with ancient pottery; marble statues, ceiling paintings, and the most gorgeous inlaid marble floors you will ever see located in the two peristyles. And, the lunch queen gives the Mediterranean themed restaurant a Five.
And then there was The Huntington. Ah, the Disneyland of plants. If you ever visit, allow a day to see most of it because, besides all the gardens to see, there is an art museum and library as well. The art galleries feature American paintings from 1730s to 1930s and 18th and 19th century British and French art, including Gainsborough’s The Blue Boy and Pinkie. The extraordinary library was especially interesting as it held so many historical and one of a kind documents and books. It holds 6 million items of which we only see the tip of the iceberg. To name a few: a Guttenberg Bible on vellum, the double-elephant folio edition of Audubon’s Birds of America, early editions of Shakespeare’s works, the Ellesmere manuscript of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, a letter written by Captain John Smith, a letter concerning the March to the Sea written by William Tecumseh Sherman, the 13th Amendment dated January 31, 1865, abolishing slavery, a written speech by Frederick Douglas dated 1845, and a gazillion other things I can’t remember.
The grounds cover 207 acres of which 120 are botanical garden. The 12 principal garden areas are arranged and blended into one another and, though there are a few hills, they are worth climbing even though one is used to flat Florida. Botanical areas include the Desert, Japanese (showing off an exquisite Bonsai Collection), Rose, Subtropical, Herb, Jungle, and Palm Gardens. The Conservatory held many unusual plants I had never seen (and wanted) and some that we can commonly grow in our back yards. Hummingbirds were everywhere and I spent several minutes trying to capture them on film as they visited a blooming Erythrina tree. If you lifted up the branches to peek inside the center of the tree, you found the hummers lined up on branches staring back at you. An extraordinary place to visit and next time I go I will allow a whole day rather than a few hours to explore it.
The Begonia Show and Sale was wonderful as usual and coverage of that will be in the next Begonian magazine. The speakers all gave enlightening talks and presentations of their travels in India and Southeast Asia. Be ready for new begonias in the coming year as more have been found and are trying to be identified. The pictures we saw of them are beyond gorgeous.
There is so much more to the convention but, alas, I have run out of room.
Happy Gardening to all …….. Johanna
Plant of the Month
B. ‘Midnight Twister”
I bought my original plant about two years ago in Home Depot! I have since gotten some plugs of the same plant from Harmony. This dark-leaved begonia beauty is happy in a pot or in the ground. When in a pot, in can tolerate full winter sun on a patio, but must be moved away from full sun starting in May. It will also grow well in the ground in full shade year-round. As the name suggests, the leaves twist attractively. They also have tiny silver hairs on the edges. The real show is when those pretty pink flowers appear in winter.
Even if you receive this newsletter in paper format, if you have a computer you can view the color pictures on the website.
You do not need Word software. Near the bottom of the home page click on “Feature Plant of the Month.”
Send letters, articles, and comments to Doris Happel, Editor,
or call 434-3745. I am always looking for articles. Please share your gardening stories, favorite begonia, gardening tips, etc.
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