Sometimes , I am just my own tough enemy . Sure , I can just keep saying it over and over again to masses – ” well , you know … .I just ca n’t getthatinterested in gesneriad or even begonia for that issue . I do n’t have the room , and they really do n’t interest me that much . ” .
Right .
OK , okay … I am kind - of a ‘ social collector ‘ of gesneriad and begonia . As in “ I only do them on weekends ” . Besides , good-for-nothing common people , but I just I ca n’t every exclusive industrial plant society … .(or can I ? ) . I ’d love to , but perhaps not just now . I just ‘ dabble ’ in various genera , like a few of you , I sleep with !
I left this weekends duette exposition at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston , MA with two begonias and one gesneriad ( a very nice one that was gifted to Joe by a member because he asked for a cutting ) . So clearly , they are making their manner into the collection flake by bit . And just because I place an orderliness for more African Violets and have dedicated an entire terrace to unchewable begonia in the glasshouse does n’t mean that I have any pursuit at all in the plant . End of history .
If you live in an apartment , or do n’t have a greenhouse , the broad and extremely interesting group of plants sleep with collectively as Gesneriads ( mainly those within Gesneriaceae ) , offer marvelous diversity in both size of it , and substance abuse . We all know about the most common family unit extremity , the Siningia ( Gloxinia is one ) and Sainpaulia ( the African Violets ) , but there are SO many more to discover . You may be surprised at how many gesneriads you could collect , from the tiniest gem only an column inch or so wide , to monolithic outdoor perennials . Mostly , they are warm , tropical and fuzzy leaved yet some have glossy folio . Some are vining , while others grow in perfect russet scab . Most have spectacular flowers .
Without defending my position any more , here are some very poor iPhone icon from this past weekends ’ show at Tower Hill . All kidding away , both gesneriads ( those often fuzzy - go out plant in the same syndicate as African Violets ) and begonias make wonderful terrarium and window - sill plants , and they make for a singular and interesting option to most plant sell as terrarium plants , so look for them either on - line ( some of my pet source for really interesting terrarium plants are heel below ) or at your better garden midpoint .
So here is my problem . While at the show , people would spot me as ask why I did n’t enroll anything , and i would react with one of my typical excuses ( afraid to accommodate the truth , which was that I just want to be a little selfish with my time ) . I do like African Violets and Streptocarpus though , and it is normally around mid autumn when I crave Modern or memorable erstwhile varieties for my winter window . These are perfect indoor flora , either under hokey twinkle , or on eastward , or west – even northerly exposure window . Who does n’t want some color when it is snowing outdoors ?
These excuses such as “ I am not really all that ‘ into ’ begonia ’s only took me ‘ so far ’ , since it appear that most of these hoi polloi were blog following ( oh…right….that web log ) . Dang .
‘ We bonk you have awing begonia ” hollo one someone . Another said “ Oh , I sleep with you ! I follow your web log – look … . ( as she showed me photos of some of the Dahlia pinnata varieties I had suggest that proofreader might care to grow . ” .
Ugh , ‘ that ’ blog . It always cause me in trouble !
So much for being anon. .
GO now and Malcolm stock - up on some fabulous house plants before it gets too cold to order them ! total this wintertime , you will thank me .
reservoir – in the US :
Lyndon Lyon – African Violets and GesneriadsKartuz Greenhouses – for freight of interesting gesneriads and tropicalsThe Violet Barn – Nice Streptocarpus ( and African Violets)Mountain Orchids – Amazing dwarf begonias and smaller orchid , ferns and curiosity . Logee ’s Greenhouses – Some nicer Streptocarpus and interesting terrarium plants as well .
Interested in know more ?
sample theGesneriad SocietyOr theAmerican Begonia Societyand look for local chapters near you and be certain to agree their tie-in for more plant sources .
Share this:
Related
