Retirement brings on not only the gardening bug for Patricia, but also the opportunity to grow many varieties of begonia.
My name is Patricia Mickelson, and I live in Carpinteria, a small town near near Santa Barbara, California. I have been gardening since I moved here 20 years ago, but it was not until I retired about seven years ago that I got the “gardening bug.” The mild climate here on the West Coast allows me to grow a variety of begonias in my backyard almost all year round.
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Comments
Patricia, your begonias are beautiful.
I love begonias! Hardy, vibrant colors, and such variety! Do you have angel or dragon leaf begonias??? If, so how immense do they grow for you, on that CA climate?
Patricia, good morning. Enjoyed your post today. My favorite photo is the 4th one. The lighting on the leaves is very cool. I like growing the newer cultivars as accents for their cool leaves. Thanks for sharing.
PS. Your begonias are lovely, and I love the blue containers with them, ENJOY GOOD HEALTH AND HAPPINESS in your retirement!
Is that a climbing begonia????? I've never heard tell of that one! Beautiful photos!
Wonderful begonias. When I was in California, I was amazed at the plants people could grow in their gardens year round. I love your Begonia fuchsioides in the third photo.
The fourth photo is truly stunning - but all of your begonias are lovely. Isn't retirement wonderful - discovering new joys and gifts, opening new doors. Wishing you many years of health and happiness, and gardening!
There are so many amazing begonias. What a treat to see your collection. Great photos and some great varieties!
Begonias are amazing... I grow several myself- Nice to see yours !
What a very cool collection to have, especially with so many options to explore. Thanks for sharing.
Great varieties of begonias and nice you could grow them all year round. I'm too a begonia enthusiast and grow some myself but need to over winter them in my garage or grow as house plants. Thanks for sharing.
What a lovely selection of begonias! I too, especially like the 4th photo down. My 93 year old Aunt also has a great collection. Thanks for sharing!
Hi, Patricia, it has to be kind of fascinating when someone like yourself has a plant speciality. You get to discover the more unique varieties than most of us don't come across at our local nurseries and big box stores. I treated myself to one with beautiful foliage much like in your picture #2 and it saddened my heart as it sulked through my east TN summer heat and humidity. It dwindled to virtual nothingness and I accepted its verdict. Nice to see all of yours happy, healthy and thriving.
Good morning, Patricia, and thanks for these photos of your begonias. A couple of years ago, we were lucky enough to visit the Sydney Botanical Garden and their collection of begonias blew us away. You also have a great collection and I especially like the 4th photo. Nice light play on those leaves.
Thanks for sharing the photos of your lovely collection, Patricia. That shot of Begonia 'Escargot' will be making me start searching for it again. I saw it in a private garden once, but have never seen it in a nursery. Such cool leaves!
Nice pictures Patricia.
So beautiful! Your yard looks like an awesome place to relax. Thanks for sharing!
Unfortunately, Pat, this happened to me, too, in a post last fall. I'd love to know what went wrong since I took the time to put the labels in as I'm sure you did, because people always comment on how they appreciate that. Maybe Kim can give us some hints as to what we did incorrectly so as not to repeat our mistakes.
Thanx much!
gorgeous begonias! Wonder why they have you gardening in MD? ;-) Anyhoo, Love that 'Escargot' - I have a giant version of that same pot and have always thought of putting grey-leaved plants in it but never did. Your gorgeous combo there has proven it's a perfect combo!
Beautiful ! Begonias are so varied & glorious & even tropical looking sometimes. Very nice - Good work!
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