The Brave Begonia

Begonia brevirimosa is bright pink!

I took some shots of my container gardens today. I should count myself lucky that I still have that beautiful pink Begonia brevirimosa, a sure stunner in this ensemble.

A native of Papua New Guinea, this uncommon plant has been through a lot in its time with me. To avoid losing the plant to the devastating water jets of the corridor washers and the equally merciless plant thief that lives in my estate, I make sure I take cuttings of it from time to time. Two cuttings I have given to trusted growers, Mark and my cousin, and the remaining I have kept. I think of this as 'Plant Insurance', or 'conservation by cultivation' as Mark would say.

Although stock plants occasionally get badly damaged or stolen, diligent propagation ensures Begonia brevirimosa stays in my garden. I would keep tiny young plants indoors on the safety of my window sill until they outgrow the space and then (reluctantly) move them outside and pray that life would be kind to them.

Despite all the tribulations, I never had to tap on my 'insurance' plants that are, by the way, doing very well. Plants never give up, they are not programmed to. That, I think, is amazing.