I confess that I have never paid much attention to begonias. Maybe it’s the name, which to me sounds fussy and old-ladyish.
But I recently learned about an intriguing strain, the Rex hybrid begonia. These are tropical plants, native to South East Asia and Northern India. Extensive breeding has led to many visually striking varieties. They offer unusual — even weird — leaf shapes and extreme foliage colors in a range of unlikely combinations: burgundy, chocolate, gold, purple, silver, crimson. They’re great to mix and match with other plants or as spectacular standouts on their own.
One of the most eye-catching Rex begonias is ‘Escargot,’ named for the odd, snail-like shape of its leaves, which are olive green mixed with silver, and edged in purple. When I saw this one, I wondered, who the heck figured out how to make a plant look like that? What would Charles Darwin say?
The slightly creepy looking ‘Escargot’ inspired me to create an Addams Family container for my patio. Along with the ‘Escargot’ I plan to use the Juncus effusus ‘Big Twister’ (Giant Corkscrew Rush) a swirl of skinny green leaves shaped like corkscrews. This is a perennial for temperate climates that’s native to Europe, Asia and Africa. Tolerating sun as well as part shade, it’s sure to enliven any combination of plants, including my bewitching Halloween arrangement.
A good complement for these two bizarre-looking plants might be Cordyline ‘Chocolate Queen.’ This tropical wonder, also known as False Dracaena, is an upright mound of swordlike green leaves striped with creamy white. As the plant matures, the leaves become “flushed with chocolate purple and deep red coloring,” according to the plant catalog of Andrews’ Greenhouse in South Amherst.
I can’t wait to see what happens when Escargot meets Big Twister and Chocolate Queen. It should be quite a party when they start to mingle.
There are many other Rex begonias to choose from. One of my favorites is ‘Devil’s Paradise,’ whose ruffled round leaves have a tie-dyed pattern of silver and pinky purple.
‘Red Kiss’ lives up to its name, with a metallic red leaf with a black center and black edge. ‘Stained Glass’ has crimson, ruffled leaves with purple veins edged in pewter, a good companion for pink flowers and silver foliage. ‘Cowardly Lion’ is a quieter Rex, with green/gold burgundy leaves in a pleasing, swirled pattern.
Rex Begonias are well adapted to our hot, humid summers. They like shade and well-drained soil. Water them when the soil is dry to the touch, but don’t over water them, and be sparing with fertilizer. Their leaves do not appreciate misting. Trim dead leaves and keep the pots free of debris to prevent disease.
Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston has a fabulous summer line-up of activities for gardeners of all ages and interests. Here are a few upcoming events:
PLANT SOCIETY OPEN HOUSE, June 5
Representatives of plant societies from all over New England will be at Tower Hill Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. These include Massachusetts Orchid Society, New England Carnivorous Plant Society, African Violet Society, the Buxton branch of the American Begonia Society and many more.
This is a wonderful opportunity to expand your knowledge of particular plant varieties.
Cost: Included with admission. Free for members.
GARDEN DISCOVERY PROGRAM, June 8
It’s never too early to introduce children to the wonders of the natural world.
Tower Hill has a wonderful Garden Discovery Program for kids ages 3 to 5 on the second Wednesday of every month, from 10 to 11 a.m. The hour begins with a story and craft and ends with a short walk in the garden.
Please dress for the weather.
The June 8 program is on bees and how they help gardens. Discover the best places to find nectar and pollen.
The program is free, but you must register in advance. For more information and to register, go to towerhillbg.org/events.
SOGETSU IKEBANA, June 9
If you’re interested in learning more about Ikebana, the sublime art of Japanese flower arranging, Tower Hill is offering a class on June 9 from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
The instructor is Kaye Vosburgh, a Master Judge and Design Instructor for the National Garden Club as well as a Sogetsu Ikebana teacher of the highest rank, Riji. She has won numerous medals and awards in the New England Spring Flower Show.
Vosburgh teaches in New York, where she used to live, and in Massachusetts, where she now resides. She has traveled to Japan on several occasions for conferences and lessons at the Sogetsu School. She loves to share creative moments with other designers and students.
The cost for members is $25; Non-members: $50.
For more information and to register, go to: Towerhillbg.org/events.
Closer to home, on Saturday the 25th annual Puffer’s Pond Pancake Breakfast will take place from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the Mill River Recreation Area in North Amherst (off Route 63 just north of North Amherst center).
There will be delicious food, of course, and some exciting new family activities. At 10 a.m., Hitchcock Center for the Environment Educator Patrick O’Roarke will lead an exploration of stream invertebrates in the Mill River.
Also at 10 a.m., Dave Ziomek, Assistant Town Manager, will lead a walk and talk up to Puffer’s Pond from the Mill River Recreation Area. Ziomek will describe the town’s plans for improvements and management of Puffer’s Pond.
Each activity will take about an hour and have participants back to the Mill River Pavilion in time for a second round of pancakes and the raffle drawing.
Adults: $8; children: $6.
Eight gardens of special interest are featured this year in and around Northampton on the 23rd Northampton Garden Tour, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine.
The tour raises funds for the Friends of Forbes Library, Inc. to provide for special programming at Forbes.
The tour is also meant to inspire and educate interested gardeners with a variety of appealing landscape styles and collections of garden plantings.
This year’s gardens are located along a scenic 18-mile route to the outer areas of the city, making gardens accessible by car and offering a pleasant bicycle ride.
Tickets come with directions to the self-guided tour of gardens within easy driving distance of the library. At each garden, there are descriptions of the plantings and volunteer garden guides to answer questions.
Tickets are $15 and can be picked up in advance at Forbes Library, Bay State Perennial Farm, Cooper’s Corner, Hadley Garden Center, North Country Landscapes and State Street Fruit Store. On the day of the tour, they are $20 and available only at the library.
The event also includes a raffle. Prizes include organic compost, gift certificates, garden supplies, a landscape consultation and more.
For more information, contact Lyn Heady, 584-7041