Begonias are a unique and often underappreciated plant. Though the plant name sounds familiar few realize how much variety the plant truly offers. Begonias often pop up in places that the untrained eye doesn’t catch. One notable location is surrounding the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland.
Though growing begonias can be a challenge the process in itself can be a reward. This is especially true when it’s a community project, like it is with the American Begonia Society.
“I have made so many friends in the society,” said Martin Delgado, show chairman and a first prizewinner in the show this year, “my best friends are in the society. This society is about appreciating beauty, learning, and people coming together to share a common purpose.”
To better bring these beautiful plants to light the Westchester Begonia Society branch had its 53rd annual show and sale on Saturday, July 14. The event was held in order to showcase some chapter members personally grown begonias as well as to honor Janet Brown, previous chapter president and the current Westchester Chapter Representative and newsletter editor.
Brown is so highly thought of that she has three begonias named in her honor: B. Lady Brown, B. Janet Brown, and B. “Rudy’s” Janet Brown.
On Saturday the community was invited to come see and purchase begonias at the annual show. The plants had previously been judged, but people could still cast votes for the “People’s Choice Award.”
For the first time in the Westchester show there was a tie for “Best in Show” winners. The winning plants were the begonia ‘Sophie Cecile’ grown by Martin Delgado, and the begonia ‘My Dear Friend’ grown by Arlene Hoskins. The “People’s Choice Award” went to the begonia ‘Sentiment.’
However, all the plants in the show were beautiful and clearly well cared for.
“My attraction to the begonia is that it is a rare plant; it is a challenge,” said Delgado. “Anyone can grow a begonia, but to make it look as good as possible is a challenge. I also appreciate the beauty of it. It is the only plant in the world that has an asymmetrical leaf. The leaves start on their side; no other plant does that.”
The close-knit, but welcoming Westchester branch meets once a month for various activities and trips.
“We take pride in being able to take our members out to places like: the Huntington Gardens, or the Sherman Gardens in Orange County, and into peoples homes and backyards to see how they grow their begonias,” said Stephanie Rose, Westchester Begonia Society Chapter President. “Some people just grow a few plants on the patio and other people have a big section of their house shaded by them. We’ve even gone on a trip to Scotland; we did a big exchange with them.”
Though being in the society has its perks, whether it’s the trips, getting begonia seeds or branches from cutting, the society is about community. Above all the begonia society is an amiable group of people who come together with a common interest and passion.
“The society provides a chance for people to relax from work, make friends, see beautiful things, and to learn something,” said Delgado.
The national American Begonia Society Convention Plant Show and Sale is coming up in August in San Diego. To learn more about begonias, the convention, or find a chapter near you go to www.begonias.org.