April 2008
Visit the website
It is wonderful to have these days of rain in the midst of this drought. Just as things start to look dry and dusty, it rains. My garden and my begonias are doing well even with one day a week watering.
Thanks to David Bache for a very interesting program and his cool under terrible technical conditions. Lots of wonderful ideas for putting soothing cool silver in your landscape.
Planning is underway for the 2009 ABS Convention. Our Convention Co-Chairs, Charles Jaros and Doris Happel, have chosen the hotel. Now we need to enlist a few more Chair-people. Then, the real work begins. I have been musing about the 2000 ABS Convention. The Begonia Society of the Palm Beaches was so small then (maybe 15 people). Virginia Jens was Convention Chair, I was Co-Chair and Plant Show Chair, and Johanna Kitson was Plant Sale Chair. I know I had no idea what a big deal it was to be, but it came out wonderfully. Everyone stepped up to the plate. And our chapter quadrupled in the process. We got to be better friends and to know each other a lot better through the process of working on the convention and especially, the process of starting and growing 3000 begonias for sale (this was the genesis of our always fun Propagation Parties.) The convention garnered some publicity too, and made us a lot of new friends, and beautiful begonias began to appear in the landscapes around Palm Beach.
Speaking of new begonias, Tim Anderson is our April speaker and will bring plants for sale and talk about new hybrids. I find many of Tim's hybrids (Plum Gorgeous, the Caribbean series (-Corsair, -King, -Queen, -Crown), PHOE’s Cleo and others are some of the best begonias for gardens here in South Florida.
See you at the meeting. Keep growing those begonias,
Nancy Cohen
APRIL MEETING
Monday, April 14 Doors open at 7 p.m., meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. Tim Anderson of Palm Hammock Orchid Estates will talk about recent begonia hybrids and bring plants for sale.
Refreshments: Audrey Abrams, Rita Obeid, Debra Rosen
Raffle Table: Brenda Skaggs
Badge Plant: Brenda Skaggs
Exchange Table: Bring a plant, take a ticket, and bring home somebody else’s plant. Please bring an attractive plant that you are proud to share.
MINUTES OF MEETING OF MARCH 10, 2008
The meeting began at 7:35 p.m. with a welcome by President Nancy Cohen. Janet Desmond joined the Begonia Society and guest Madeline Elonge also attended.
Maria Mitsinicos gave the Treasurer’s Report. The balance at the end of February was $3,480; reduced from last month after funds were sent to ABS. Members who haven't yet renewed were asked to do so.
An update on the condition of the Hirschbergers was given. Abe is recovering from a stroke and has started physical therapy. Flo is recovering from a couple of heart attacks and had part of one leg amputated. Both are at Manor Care and would love visitors. Cards were circulated for everyone to sign. It was suggested hat the club send flowers.
Nancy thanked those who provided refreshments: Brenda, Pat and Susan. She also thanked Shirley Fenner for taking care of the raffle table and Norma Grimm for supplying a badge plant.
Old Business: It was noted that the Executive Committee will be discussing the 2009 ABS Convention at its meetings and providing monthly updates at the general meeting. Mary Sakamoto has provided Doris with square footage needs for the begonia show; Doris will be looking for a hotel with good room rates for the convention. It takes place the week after Mounts’ Spring Plant Sale beginning on Wednesday and goes through the weekend of May 1 & 2. There will be a lot to do in connection with the conference and many volunteers will be needed.
The Begonia Society gave $500 to Mounts for the Shade and Color Island. Steven Royer sent a letter thanking the Begonia Society for its donation and part of it was read aloud. Donnie reported that a mini upscale rummage sale will help raise funds for improvements to the Herb Garden. It will take place during Mounts’ Spring Plant Sale. Donations are being accepted.
Announcements: Johanna reminded everyone that there will be a potting party this Saturday (10 a.m.) at her house. Fafard mix will be available (for sale) at the party or at 9 a.m. before the party for those not attending the party. There will also be begonia plants available for making up strawberry pots.
Also on Saturday, RiverWalk is having a garden tour from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Paul Durbin will keep his garden open until 4 p.m. because of Johanna’s potting party to give those attending more time to see it.
Gene Joyner reminded everyone that he will be on WRNB, 87.9 FM radio once a month; the next time is Wed., March 20 at 8:05 a.m. He also invited everyone to come see Unbelievable Acres; he expanded his nursery and it is open to visitors by appointment.
Next month the speaker will be Tim Anderson from Palm Hammock Estates. His subject is “Recent Begonia Hybrids.”
Speaker: David Bache gave a greatly appreciated presentation on silver plants featuring many individual selections and their use in the landscape.
Respectfully submitted by
Sandy Sklar
Recording Secretary
From Johanna:
The Miami Begonia Branch is having their show and sale on April 26 and 27 at Fairchild. Use your Mounts Botanical garden membership card to get into Fairchild for free. Go see the show so you can get an idea of what we will be doing for our 2009 convention show. In the coming months we will have a workshop/program on how to get a plant ready for a show. For instance, to keep a plant round and uniform, turn it a quarter turn every week so the light hits all sides evenly. More helpful hints to come.
From Doris:
The next propagation workshop will be at my house on Saturday, April 19. I would like to get started at 9:30. Please bring any cuttings of nice begonias you may have. If you aren't sure, give me call (434-3745) or email.
If you have any extra trays and or 4-inch pots, bring those too.
Address and directions:
1958 Anderson Lane, Palm Springs
Anderson Lane is 1/10 mile east of Kirk Road on the south side of Forest Hill Blvd. (east of Military Trail, west of Congress). Anderson Lane is a very narrow, dead-end street. The landmarks on either side are Shade Tree Apartments and a big construction project. Go to the end of Anderson (only 6 houses), following the curve to the left and go right through the gate and park inside the yard. Do not park on the street. If lost, call 434-3745.
This is the time to fertilizer everything if you haven’t done so already. If you started little plants last month at Johanna’s house, fertilize them now. In the past, we have always recommended Nutricote for begonias, which is a high-quality, slow release product. Osmocote was not recommended because it was believed to disintegrate in our summer heat, thereby quickly releasing and possibly burning plants. There is a new product available from Scotts called Suncote, specifically meant for Florida heat. I have heard good reports about this product, which is about $10 cheaper for 50 lbs than Nutricote. Suncote is available at Pro Source One on Rt. 441, south of Hypoluxo Rd.