Freak Out Plant: Begonia grandis

What can you say about a hardy begonia? It is one of the best returning gifts for a begonia lover as myself, or any shade gardener for that matter.


Huge heart shaped leaves in that typical Begonia shape with the most incredible red veining underneath.



Beautiful pink flowers that dangle above a 20 inch high mounding beauty. It commands attention and breaks up the monotony of the typical hosta shaped leaves and ferns that are so prominent in shade gardens.


I planted Begonia grandis here in the turkey coop shade garden last year, and it performed wonderfully, treating my eyes to those huge heart shaped leaves all season long.


This plant is known only to be a perennial or re-seed to zone 6; therefore, here in my zone 5 garden I treated it as an annual and did not expect its return.

Well, return it did and as an even larger mass then before, lending me to believe it re-seeded. What a surprise - I couldn't be happier. It is an outstanding shade perennial that anyone from zone 9 to 6 (and now zone 5) should try.


You will not be disappointed by this perennial Begonia beauty!

Begonia grandis
Hardy Begonia
z 6-9 (z 5 here in Cornwallville)
Part Shade
20" tall
Moist well-drained soil

A White August

No, I'm not dreaming of snow; in fact, I'm not dreaming at all. White blooms are showing up in every part of the gardens here in Cornwallville.

In my past post "Young Summer At Dusk" I mentioned how I always wanted a white garden, and with this flush of colorlessness in early August it has definitely firmed up that idea.

I believe I'm in heaven when I see white blooms, it is my absolute love when it comes to flowers. I can't explain how it makes me feel when I see them. But, calm and peace fill my body and a dream like setting always takes over me when I stare at a snowy patch of blooms.

The star of this show for me is Nicotiana sylvestris pictured below. Patches of this 4 ft annual planted in several parts of the property are covered with plenty of tubular star-shaped flowers.


The spicy scent of this outstanding annual fills the summer air, and has the added bonus of re-seeding next season if you allow it to.


Behind a patch of the Nicotiana in the woodshed bed is a patch of Phlox 'David', a great mildew resistant variety that is an absolute must in any garden.


Over at the kitchen door landing is my favorite flowering shrub of all time, Hydrangea paniculata 'Tardiva'. This was the first flowering shrub I planted here in Cornwallville and although it is starting to bloom now, it has been shaded out by the two ash trees along the side of the landing.


I will do some heavy pruning of the trees soon in hopes that this shrub will stop leaning towards the south for light; nonetheless it is giving me the best show it can under its present situation.




In the north meadow I planted several native Veronicastrium virginicum, pictured above. This coming fall I will definitely plant more of this outstanding 6 ft perennial around the property including its light purple cousin Veronicastrium sibiricum.


The dainty flowers of Begonia 'Bonita Shea', are as small as my finger nails but really beg you to get up close and examine their beauty.

The tropical climber Cobea scandens 'Alba', pictured below, is covering the veranda. Although the variety is 'Alba' it is more of a creamy green.


This spectacular vine from Mexico quickly grows 10-20 feet in a season. This is a definite keeper, I just hope I'll be able to find it again next spring as I have not seen this plant ever before.



Heuchera 'Autumn Bride' above, is a white August bloomer perfect for part shade. These young plants only sent up a few flower stalks this season but in a few years they should be covered with a cloud of white over fuzzy green foliage.

Below is a small patch of what I believe to be a variety of Feverfew, although I might be wrong. There were masses of this plant all along the side of the turkey coop when we moved in. I foolishly removed it all for my shade garden but this lone little guy came up this year to my delight.



Foliage can also be white like the Carex 'Silver Scepter' above. Thin blades of creamy white are banded by deep evergreen. It reminds be of an undersea creature walking through the garden floor.


The soft blue white bracts of Mountain Mint in one of the south island beds reminds me of a misty morning in the garden. The scent when the flowers are touched is heavenly.

Abutilon 'Snowbell' a white flowering maple below greets us as we walk up the kitchen landing steps. It's about two feet tall now and sits atop the largest pot above all the other plantings.


Finally an unusual tropical I acquired this season is Clerodendrum incisum 'Musical Notes'. It's a small tropical shrub that I planted in a large pot in front of our house.


The buds start off as tightly curled "musical notes", and open to a pure white open flower with long dark stamens.


White flowers are an important theme here at The Cornwallville Gardens. They are one of the main links, and add continuity to the whole property. I can't say enough about them and how their beauty brings me joy each day.

Arrangement: July

I have been creating indoor floral arrangements before I was a gardener. I would go into my mother's garden and snip pachysandra and ivy and put then in vases in my room when I was a child.

As I grew more and more interested in gardening, my floral arranging skills and interest grew as well. I still compose arrangements here at our home and have executed numerous weddings and special events for years now.

So once a month I will feature an arrangement of flowers and other botanical material composed and displayed here at the M.H. Merchant Stone House.

July's arrangement is a deep rich collection of Rudbeckias, Achillea, and Verbascum, all in orange, ochre yellow, and rich browns.
It is almost more appropriate for a September floral, but this is what was blooming and what caught my eye for a July composition.


I hope you enjoy this little monthly look and indoor flower arranging, and I hope it inspires you to go out into your own property and experiment more with this art form.

Young Summer At Dusk

It's strange how so many dark and electric-colored flowers and plants can be so intriguing at dusk. Yellows and variegation in foliage also brighten up areas when the sun goes down.

I have wanted a white garden all my life but have yet to plant one (next season, or more likely this coming fall). But for now these deep, rich and bright colors, yellows and variegation are exciting me! They are completely striking at nightfall and their tones are just as rich as the summer night sky. So lets take a little stroll at dusk in the Cornwallville gardens.

In the photo above is Euphorbia tirucalli 'Sticks On Fire', a host gift from Bob and Andrew at Loomis Creek Nursery in Hudson, NY. They have one outside their greenhouse that is 2.5 ft. tall and just mind-blowing. This little guy is waiting to be potted up and its pink succulent fingers just glow at dusk! Perhaps they should rename this variety 'Glow Sticks'.


This begonia above, Begonia rex 'River Nile' has lived in our parlour all winter and now resides out in the containers by the kitchen door landing. Its soft light pink flowers are just starting to pop and greet us at night.


There are a great variety of container gardens here at the M.H. Merchant Stone House, all of which will be featured soon. This one is planted with a burgundy ivy geranium, Pelargonium pelatum 'Blizzard Compact Burgundy'. These flowers get darker and darker as the light fades.


Also around the kitchen landing I have a Japanese painted fern next to the stoop. Blue-green and grey foliage gives off a light fuzz at dusk. The chartreuse Coleus makes the area pop.



Now over to the island perennial beds where I planted a slew of Rudbeckia hirta 'Cherokee Sunset' last year. I thought they were an annual but they have all returned and are starting to burst out with their orange-bronze and mahogany blooms.

To continue with the orange theme I have a cluster of Kniphofia 'Alcazar', out by the drive. Just like the Euphorbia at top, electric colors glow at dusk whether orange, chartreuse or pink.

In the same bed I have a grouping of Achillea filipendulina 'Gold Coin', a fernleaf Yarrow with 5" golden yellow flower heads. The Verbascum thapsus, and faded seed heads of Allium 'Gladiator' complete the scene.


A new plant to the market that I am trying out is Monarda 'Purple Rooster'. A true purple Monarda that is mildew resistant and robust. Although, I have been having issues with its weak stems; they seem to break in a breeze. Gorgeous nonetheless, I would most likely plant more of them!


Now to the back rockery patio and shade gardens. Mid-way through the path that leads you there I have this little area of variegation. I have an Abutilon 'Variegatum' planted in my faux bois (left), Hosta 'Striptease' (top center), and Salvinia floating in my water bowl (right).



Out on the rockery between my faux bois planters I have a patch of Nicotiana 'Babybella'. The plum red flowers stand at vertical positions almost like moths perched on the tips of sticks.

Finally, planted out in a hollowed tree stump I have Begonia 'Bonfire', eye-popping red blooms dangle at nightfall. This is an all-out great annual with the added bonus of returning next year if you store them properly.

I urge you all to take a walk at dusk in your garden or park and see how the tones of flowers and plants change in low light. You will be surprised at the beauty you'll discover.

Our First Plant, A Blackcurrant

It's the first day of summer here in Cornwallville and it is the perfect day! The winds is blowing, and the temperature is cool and dream-like.

I was just walking the gardens spot weeding and noticed our first plant that was ever dug into the soil here. No, it isn't a unique perennial or an exotic annual or even a patio tomato.


It's a Blackcurrant shrub or Ribes nigrum. An inconspicuous looking bush that sits at the edge of the South Meadow.


I turned some of the upright branches to find beautiful black gems dangling underneath the foliage. I popped a few in my mouth, and the tart almost deep blueberry like flavors hit my taste buds.



I quickly ran to the house to call Stephen of the news. Three summers ago when we moved in to the M.H. Merchant Stone House, our first day we went down to our local organic farmer, Farmer Todd.
We introduced ourselves and got talking, an hour later we left with bags of organic vegetables and a small Blackcurrant bush that he gave us as a house-warming gift.

When we got home I just planted it at the edge of the meadow for a "temporary" spot, because there was no gardens at the time, but as of yet it hasn't moved.


The fruit is extremely high in vitamin C content, 302% of your daily value. Plus good levels of vitamin B5, potassium, iron, and phosphorus.

Currants were once tremendously popular in the U.S. in the 1800's, until believe it our not, Currant and Gooseberry farming was banned in the United States in the early 1900's. The plants were the host for white pine blister rust, a disease that threatened the logging industry at the time.

The ban has only recently been lifted in New York state in 2003, and is still banned in Maine and New Hampshire.
Currant farming is making a comeback in New York, Connecticut, Vermont and Oregon, for good reason. This shrub is an amazing producer. One established Blackcurrant can yield up to 11lbs. of fruit.


I think when our vegetable garden is built next year we will be planting more of these outstanding plants!

Ribes nigrum, or Blackcurrant
Z2-7
Full Sun
3-6ft. tall
Fertile well drained soil, to sandy clay with a pH of 6-6.5