The forgotten begonias

You know how it is: there you are in early Spring all excited when the plant catalogues start arriving and full of the joys of ordering frenzy.  

Some weeks later the delivery arrives and you think to yourself 'I will plant them soon'.  You put the box to one side and promptly forget all about it......

for months.......  Let's just say that the box got hidden under another box and time passed.  These straggly growths are a Begonia 'Berries and Cream' mix from Thompson and Morgan that I bought in Spring 2025.  It was September 2025 when I refound them.  I was going to compost them but then I thought that they just wanted to live.  They had straggled and sought out what light they could and it felt mean to just kill them now.  

So I potted them up.  Making sure a little was above soil level to encourage some growth.  It was September and I did not really expect much to happen.

Ten days later and there was actual growth.  I was delighted.

A couple more weeks later in early October and I was getting very hopeful.  I decided to overwinter them on the kitchen windowsill.  This meant they would stay warm and I would remember to keep them watered.  

Leaves came and went and growth paused over the winter.  I lost of some of my hope.  

But with the warm summer we have had, growth suddenly recommenced apace and voila! a flower appeared.  This flower might not look but for the begonia and myself it was proof of patience, somewhat tardy care and the resilience of this little begonia that just wanted to live.  It is definitely more cream than berry.

I have apologised to it frequently for the early neglect.  I don't kid myself that it forgives me.  

Take care and be kind.

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