Mike Likes to Grow Them BIG!

 Here are two rhizomatous begonias that Mike is growing.  They are begonia Cachuma and Immense, and they are looking spectacular!

Mike Flaherty growing B. Cachuma

Mike Flaherty growing B. Immense

American Begonia Society Convention in Atlanta Georgia

 

A few of my favorites in the display

American Begonia Society - Atlanta Show

 Here are some pictures of the begonia show at the American Begonia Society convention in Atlanta Georgia.

Best In Show

b. ningmingensis var bella grown by Johanna Zinn

b. ningmingensis var bella grown by Johanna Zinn

B. My Special Angel grown by Johnnie Hadley

B. Fabulous Tom grown by Mariana DiVita

B. Eric Seal grown by Mariana DiVita

B. Crackln Rosie grown by Butch McDole

 B. Ginny grown by Mariana Divita

 B. Mariana's Monster grown by Johnnie Hadley

B. Cierge Magique grown by Steve's Leaves - Best New Introduction

Begonia Collection grown by Mariana Divita

B. Old Blue grown by Mariana DiVita

B. longiciliata grown by David Mellard

B. Unknown rhizomatous grown by Mariana DiVita

B. Janet Brown grown by Mariana Divita

B. La Cresta grown by Mariana DeVita

B. metallica grown by Mariana DiVita

B. Jovian grown by Sabrina Hagerman

B. bullatifolia grown by Johanna Zin

B. lyniceorum grown by Johanna Zinn

B scapigera grown by Sabrina Hagerman

B. sp. Aff Mendumia grown by Wallace Wells

B. U-690 grown by Wallace Wells

B. melanobullata by David Mellard

B. Orange Glow by Steve's Leaves

B. Helen Teupel grown by Steve's Leaves

B. Mariana's Monster grown by Mariana DiVita

From left to right, B. Benitosobomi grown by Mariana DiVita, Picture of B. Tamdaoensis by Stephen Maciejewski, B. Oteka grown by Mariana DiVita, B. Bowerae var nigramarga grown by Don Miller and B. Fairy grown by Mariana DiVita

Atlanta Botanical Garden - Earth Goddess

 We recently attended the American Begonia Society convention in Atlanta Georgia.  One morning we took a tour of the Atlanta Botanical Garden's Tropical Rotunda, Orchid House and a 'Behind The Scenes' tour.  We could have spent the whole day in the garden as there is much to see.  Most impressive was the Earth Goddess.

The Earth Goddess was created by International Mosaiculture of Montreal. Mosaiculture is the centuries-old horticultural art of covering fabricated steel forms with a planting material and “plugging,” or planting, it with tens of thousands of tiny plants.  She measures 30 feet wide by 25 feet tall. 

Earth Goddess

Earth Goddess

Earth Goddess

Atlanta Botanical Garden - White pitcher plants

 Outside one of the buildings at the Atlanta Botanical Garden is a large planting of carnivorous plants.  It's made up mostly of Sarracenia leucophylla, White pitcher plants.

Sarracenia leucophylla, White pitcher plants

Atlanta Botanical Garden - Orchid House

 Here are some pictures that I took in the Orchid house at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

Look at the height of this b. maculata.

b. maculata

Now with some people to give it some scale.

b. maculata

b. maculata

I saw the top of this b. bipinnatifida and then I rounded the corner and saw just how big it is!  Wow!

B. Bipinnatifida

B. Bipinnatifida

B. Bipinnatifida