Boston Flora

Tag: Gesneriad

  • Tuesday, July 3 – Saturday, July 7 – National Gesneriad Convention

    The Gesneriad family includes African violets as well as Gloxinias, Streptocarpus, Kohlerias, Epicias, Sinningias and approximately 3,400 species, thousands of hybrids and intergenerics.

    This national convention will include seminars on cultivation and recent research of this diverse plant family. Bus tours are offered of local and private nurseries and greenhouses. The convention will culminate with a judged Flower Show and there are categories for first-time/novice growers so come and show off your favorite African Violet or gesneriad.

    You will find Convention information including links to the Flower Show Schedule, an Entry Form for submitting a plant to be judged at the Flower Show, and much more at the website noted below. Plants for judging must be brought in Thursday between 2:30PM-6:00PM with pick up on Saturday from 3:00PM to 4:00PM. The Flower Show will be open for viewing free of charge (after the plants have been judged in the morning), on Friday 2:30PM to 6:30PM and on Saturday 8:30AM to 3PM.

    The Plant Sales ballroom will be open to the public Friday 9AM to 6PM and on Saturday 8:30AM to 3PM. The event takes place at the Sheraton Hotel & Convention Center, 1657 Worcester Road, Framingham, and is sponsored by the New England Chapter of the Gesneriad Society. For complete information visit http://www.gesneriadsociety.org/conventions/2018-convention-framingham-massachusetts/

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  • Saturday, September 10, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Gardeners’ Emporium

    Saturday, September 10, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Gardeners’ Emporium

    Tower Hill Botanic Garden presents its annual Gardeners’ Emporium on Saturday, September 10 from 10 – 2. The Emporium will feature nonprofit, regional plant societies, specialty nurseries, and purveyors of distinctive garden ornaments. Societies represented include the Begonia, Cactus & Succulent, Daylily, Gesneriad, Hosta, and Rock Garden. This is the ONLY place this fall where you can find all these Societies, with the diversity of their respective offerings, gathered in one sale. Each of these groups offer expertise on their plant specialties, as well as hard-to-find specimen plants for sale. In addition, niche nurseries and garden accessory companies will offer their unique products for sale. Participating nurseries, as of the time of this posting, include Broken Arrow, DeRosa Orchids, Greystone Gardens, Pope’s Pots, Stonegate Farm, and more. Finally, Tower Hill’s Gift Shop will provide all kinds of unique gardening supplies and books, and Twigs Cafe will offer delightful meals.
    Fall is an excellent time for planting, and the Gardeners’ Emporium is a perfect opportunity to find just the right plant, or garden statue, to fill in an empty spot in the garden. The cooler days of September and October give new plants a chance to establish themselves before the onset of winter. September is also a great time to visit Tower Hill, as many of the annuals and perennials are still putting on a fantastic show. A portion of the proceeds from the sale support the ongoing development and maintenance of the Garden.  Photo from www.theodorepayne.org.  For directions and more information, log on to www.towerhillbg.org.

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  • 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.