Tag: Begonia

  • Saturday, February 11, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Begonia Workshop

    Seduced by begonias? Join the crowd. And who can blame you? Not only are begonias outrageously glam, but they are a cinch as houseplants – if you know the ropes. Join Tovah Martin, curator of the begonia collection at Logee’s Greenhouses for 25 years and lifelong begonia addict, at Berkshire Botanical Garden on Saturday, February 11 from 10 – 12 for a begonia workshop. She’ll spill the goods on which begonias make the best houseplants as well as revealing which begonias to avoid. She’ll recommend begonias that make a smooth transition from indoors to outside. In fact, she’ll introduce you to the entire begonia family with scenic detours to show you her favorite real live plants. Care, maintenance, watering, pruning, repotting, and propagating will be demonstrated with plenty of hands-on interaction. Best of all: Bring home several begonia cuttings in a mini-greenhouse to grow on! Bring hand pruners and a cardboard box to transport plants home. BBG member price $37, non-members $45, and you may register on line at www.berkshirebotanical.org.

    Tovah Martin is a horticulturist, writer and garden personality living in Northwest CT. She writes for many horticultural publications and her latest book is The New Terrarium, published in 2009.  Photo below of begonia ‘Chocolate Cream’ from Logee’s Greenhouses 1999.

  • Saturday, September 24, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm – My 100 Favorite Begonias

    This Tower Hill Botanic Garden presentation is all about begonias. Most come from the far-flung tropical areas of the world, but cultivars abound too. Discover the varied colors and textures of leaves, flowers and seed pods. Join Bonnie Lambert in her addiction to the over 1000 species and oodles of cultivars – there’s something for everyone. “Go green” and enjoy the begonia! The program will take place Saturday, September 24 from 2 – 3, and is free with admission to Tower Hill. If you’ve come out in the morning for Priscilla Purinton’s terrarium class, have lunch at Twigs, then sit in on Bonnie’s presentation. For more information, visit www.towerhillbg.org.

  • Saturday, September 25, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, and Sunday, September 26, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Gesneriad/Begonia Show

    Saturday, September 25, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, and Sunday, September 26, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Gesneriad/Begonia Show

    Visit Tower Hill Botanic Gardens in Boylston, Massachusetts on Saturday, September 25 or Sunday, September 26 for the annual plant show sponsored by the Buxton Begonia Society and the New England Gesneriad Society.   The Gesneriad family consists of over 3,000 species and over 133 genera.  It was named after 16th century Swiss naturalist Konrad von Gesner.  Most Gesneriads are from tropical parts of the world.  Some of the most common plants in this genera are the Cupid’s Bower (Achimenes), Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus), Flame Violet (Episcia), Goldfish Plant (Nematanthus), African Violet (Saintpaulia), Florist Gloxinia (Sinningia – below), and Cape Primrose (Streptocarpus). See beautiful displays of rare and unusual houseplants, take a guided tour of the show, hear lectures on begonia and gesneriad care, and visit vendors selling an incredible selection of begonias and gesneriads..  For more information, directions, and hours, log on to www.towerhillbg.org.


  • Saturday, September 26 – Sunday, September 27 – Begonia Show at Tower Hill

    The annual juried begonia plant show will take place at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston, MA on Saturday, September 26 – Sunday, September 27.  The show is sponsored by the Massachusetts Buxton Branch of the American Begonia Society.  The Massachusetts Buxton Branch of the American Begonia Society is a great place to learn about begonia culture, get new plants, and meet fellow begonia lovers.  Members include novices and experts, and meetings provice in-depth information about begonia species and cultivars, propagation techniques, growing tips, and much more.  Regular meetings are on the first Saturday of each month at the Wellesley Free Library, from 9 a.m. to noon.  For information on joining, email co-President Stuart Hammer at stuarthammer@charter.net, co-President Bonnie Lambert at lladyllove@aol.com, or Membership Secretary Wanda Macnair at wmacnair@aol.com.