Tag Archives: flowers

Photo: P. Booher

My mother enjoys tending flowers, whether inside or out. This spring, after the threat of frost ended, she transplanted these begonias. Although she placed the rocks for the practical reason of deterring possible erosion in case our area received heavy rains, to me, the rocks add to the beauty of this little spot.

A note about these begonias: I used to think of begonias, since they are generally considered houseplants, as not being particularly hardy plants. However, these begonias and the others my mother has, are transplanted back inside for the fall and winter. Due to lack of space downstairs, the begonias live upstairs in the winter. We do not heat the upstairs; the only warmth these plants receive is from the morning sun and the heat that rises through the floor. We have been doing this for the past several years, and despite some extremely cold days, have lost only three or four plants, at the most, each winter. When I go upstairs on a cold January day, I get a lift as I see the begonias blooming cheerfully, as though there was no chill in the air.

©P. Booher