Old Faithful

Day 142: Old Faithful has been hiding in a cool, dark cupboard since early October, having a bit of a winter rest. This particular "Non-Stop Begonia" tuber is one I purchased in 2017, and has only asked for a bit of fresh dirt each growing season in exchange for a lavish display of red-orange blooms held above mahogany-coloured foliage when it's at its peak. It graces my front steps where the plant only receives direct light for a few hours in the morning, a bright spot of colour to welcome me home if I've gone out. As chilly weather approaches in the fall, I break off the stems, wrap the tuber in paper towels, and tuck it away for another snooze. Toward the end of February, my internal calendar reminds me to check on it and invariably, I find that it has already started putting up shoots. Back in the pot it goes, refreshed by its hibernation and some new soil, to be kept indoors until mid-May when I can be fairly certain that a killing frost won't harm it. Now that's what I call good service!

The Steadfast Begonia

Day 147: I've had pretty good success with my last "Non-Stop" begonia tuber. I usually dry them out and tuck them away in a dark, indoor cupboard wrapped up in a paper towel in an attempt to hold them over until the following year. Sometimes I forget they're in there and don't have any other reason to open the door. Today, I needed to fill the flour bin, and I happened to notice that the paper towel had a bulge at the top. "Oh!" sez I. "The begonia has sprouted!" This will be the fourth year for this particular tuber. That's a personal record. I dutifully put it in soil and watered it well, and will keep tending it indoors until the first part of May. Then it'll move out to the front steps where its bright orange blossoms can greet me when I come home from town.

It was a good day for springtime tasks. I also installed the cleaned swallow houses, boiled water and poured it on the bird feeders to reduce the possibility of house-finch eye disease infecting other susceptible species like Evening Grosbeaks, and I purchased a pair of asparagus crowns to add to the garden as soon as the soil warms up. Trust the steadfast begonia: Spring is on the way!