Find hundreds of unusual, colorful shade-loving plants at free event
Nature's an endlessly fascinating designer, especially when it comes to leaves of rex begonias like the one here. See plenty of gorgeous plants at the annual American Begonia Society Show and Sale this weekend. Photo courtesy Sacramento Branch of the American Begonia Society
This weekend (Sept. 9 and 10) is all about begonias as the Joan Coulat Sacramento Branch of the American Begonia Society celebrates its 75th anniversary show and sale at Shepard Garden and Arts Center in McKinley Park.
With a nod to its milestone, the show’s theme is “Diamonds in the Shade.” In their diverse foliage and flower forms, begonias are true garden gems that thrive in Sacramento shade.
Open free to the public, the show highlights gorgeous specimen plants grown by club members. It’s also an opportunity to get expert advice on how to nurture these plants in your own garden.
The club’s annual fundraiser, the sale is always a huge draw, featuring hundreds of unusual and eye-catching plants. Club members go to great efforts to offer begonias not available from local sources.
In particular, find a great selection of rex begonias with foliage in a rainbow of colors and patterns. (They’re called “painted begonias” because each leaf looks like a living masterpiece.) Some even shimmer with a silvery patina.
Besides the amazing rex begonias, the sale features cane-type “Angel Wing” begonias as well as rhizomatous-type begonias and mini-begonias that prefer life in terrariums.
Show and sale hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10. Come early for the best selection.
Shepard Center is located at 3330 McKinley Blvd., Sacramento.
Details and directions: www.sgaac.org.
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Garden Checklist for week of July 21
Your garden needs you!
* Keep your vegetable garden watered, mulched and weeded. Water before 8 a.m. to reduce the chance of fungal infection and to conserve moisture.
* Feed vegetable plants bone meal, rock phosphate or other fertilizers high in phosphate to stimulate more blooms and fruiting. (But wait until daily high temperatures drop out of the 100s.)
* Don’t let tomatoes wilt or dry out completely. Give tomatoes a deep watering two to three times a week.
* Harvest vegetables promptly to encourage plants to produce more. Squash especially tends to grow rapidly in hot weather. Keep an eye on zucchini.
* Pinch back chrysanthemums for bushy plants and more flowers in September.
* Remove spent flowers from roses, daylilies and other bloomers as they finish flowering.
* Pinch off blooms from basil so the plant will grow more leaves.
* Cut back lavender after flowering to promote a second bloom.
* It's not too late to add a splash of color. Plant petunias, snapdragons, zinnias and marigolds.
* From seed, plant corn, pumpkins, radishes, winter squash and sunflowers.
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