\n\n\nA collection of begonias provides color and interest for a shady side of the house, an entrance or on a deck, where I keep much of my collection, on some custom made steps that I had a local handyman make.<\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n A north windowsill or office desk will suit them fine, but you may want to take a tip from the Begonia Society folk, and grow some in a terrarium or a large, glass bowl, where they truly shine. I prefer to keep collections through the winter in an unheated room, but then allow them to truly show off in some of my summer displays out of doors, where I try to assemble as many forms as possible in tiered displays on our shady deck, and on the back porch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \n\n\n\n\n ![](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gardern.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/potted6.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\") <\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\n\nI tried to focus on begonias, while at Logee’s but it was difficult to resist some of the other plants, especially the newer introductions. I still left with only two boxes of plants. I will shop for other summer container plants later, such as salvia.<\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \nIt may seem as if it is too early to start buying plants for containers, as there is still plenty of snow on the ground, but since I have a greenhouse, I might as well make some use of it, right? Besides, as we all know, one must grab while the opportunity exists, for like the perfect pair of shoes, or a cool shirt in the perfect size and fit, the perfect plant can too simply not be there when one returns to buy it a few weeks from now. At least I have convinced myself about this fact. Shut up.<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \nBEGONIA ‘WILD PONY’<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<\/div>\n Even if you do not have a greenhouse, if you have a bright garage, a glassed-in porch, a sunroom or a cool, unheated bedroom – you should be taking advantage of this bit of time, tuck in a few brugmansia or oleander, which will surely sulk until the weather warms, but in a large pot, they will readily focus on root formation, building a strong foundation, making their transition from stump to sturdy growth in May, when you will move their large pots out into the garden.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \nBEGONIA ‘RIVER NILE’<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n <\/p>\n \n<\/div>\n At Logee’s I also discovered some new plants, as you will see, but also many rhizotomas begonias, of which I can never seem to have enough of. These, in particular must be purchased when one sees them, for with 200 or so varieties, and only 5 or 6 of each available at one time, I rarely see many of these for sale at the same time. I’ve been going to Logees for – dare I say, 35 years or more, and I still find new begonias and tropicals to add to my collections. These small, 2.5 inch pots will quickly fill a 6, 8 or 10 inch clay pot by mid summer, and with a few dozen varieties displayed all together, will make an interesting display.<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \nMany of these types of begonias actually bloom in late winter, or spring. An added bonus for those of use who keep such collections for a few years. This tall blossom belongs to B. ‘Madame Queen’.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \nThis standard Genista canariensis captured my attention, not because it is so awesome, but because I let mine freeze this fall ( I was lazy, and left it plunged in the garden). It was about the same size as this. Now, I wish I brought it back into the greenhouse. Still, sometimes it good to take a couple of years off from a plant.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<\/div>\n \n\n\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \nIn the main house at Logee’s. a typical conservatory display of orange Streptosolen jamesonii, or Marmalade Plant, blue Coleus thyrisoides and Chenile Plant, transport visitors back into the 19th century. Sorry, poor iPhone photo.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n | | | | | | | |