FRAGILE BEAUTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 42, 18 January 1938, Page 2

FRAGILE BEAUTY

HOUSE OF BEGONIAS. SUGGESTION FOR ESPLANADE. Assertive, fragile beauty at present dominates the interior of the begonia house at Mr F. J. Nathan’s home uj College Street, where double, trilled and basket begonias, some of tbe ioimer six inches in diameter, are at tlie perfection of their bloom. There are 84 begonias in tins house, easily the largest of .its Kind in the district, and on these delicate flowers, queens among blooms on account of the intensely rich depth and almost pellucid purity of their colour. Not til are in bloom, because they have been carefully propagated to reach their maturity at different stages, but, with fifteen basket begonias hanging overhead, exquisite and lairylike, it is a wonderful sight. Begonias are some of the most beautiful blooms grown, ana, with the temperature controlled above a minimum of 70 degrees, grow well under house conditions in the Alanawatu district. From the seed, they develop quickiy to bloom in six months; Those seen yesterday, which are the pride of their owner, are varieties imported from England, or propagated from such. They make a spectacle which is . truly ambrosial.

Though their colours are subtly blended, they are equally distinctive and there is a striking fidelity about their hues, without arriving at a specific designation of the tone. Their waxen texture is peculiarly their own, find one for which no flower can rival the begonia, the'tuberous varieties of which had their origin in Andean climates. Clear as porcelain, they cover a.n enormous range of colour from saffron to scarlet. Within this come blush hues, shell-pink, pale yellow, apricot, ierra-cotta, tangerine, ivory and perfect white. Begonias are endowed by Nature with a quality of colouring which has a near-poetic affinity.

Though the suggestion has been advanced and tentative plans have been prepared. no specific allocation has been made by the Palmerston North City Council for the construction of a begonia house at the Esplanade. This spot is renowned throughout New Zealand, and even further abroad, for the billowing banks of pink and white blossom on the cherry trees in the spring, but this, unfortunately, is a glory of short duration, as the unprotected petals are soon at.the mercy of the weather. It has been urged that an even greater attraction would be two or three begonia houses. Their midsummer charm would make this city widely known for its appreciation, of beautiful flowers, and set the seal on the glamour enjoyed by the Esplanade and botanical gardens as the home of the prettiest plants of Nature..-Bal-larat and the Fitzrov gardens at Melbourne have begonia ■ houses’which ha.ve become the chief feature of their attractions, and it is considered that Palmerston North could emulate them with ease. It is known that there are citizens who are prepared to donate seeds, tubers and flowers in their ardent desire to see this objective consummated.

When in Australia last year, Mr Nathan forwarded some tubers to Mr P. Black, curator of the city reserves, and these have been -propagated in the glass-house at the Esplanade, where they are in bloom. ." Begonias remain in bloom forA.from one to;two months, and when they are not in, flower good use cnn .be made of the facilities for calceolaria, sohizanthus, cineraria and cyclamen. Coolhouse orchids can also be grown. A propagation house would be a necessary adjunct to a begonia house, and the plants would require the expenditure of adequate time and labour, but this would bring its own'reward undey the direction of so capable a curator as Mr Black.