B. ‘Modjeska’

The most attractive and interesting garden here is that of Mrs. Theodosia B. Shepherd, who is a well-known hybridizer of various flowers. The advantages of location are great, but she has shown uncommon skill in utilizing those advantages, and her name is now prominent among California growers and experimenters.

One of the first things of importance I noticed here was her new Begonias. Mrs. Shepherd has a very large collection of fibrous-rooted species, and after numerous experiments is now rejoicing in a strain of attractive hybrids of Gloire de Jouy x rubra [coccinea].

This new production is really a race of giant Begonias, some of which send up canes six or eight feet high, with rich, lustrous, metallic leaves, often 15”x8”. The glossy and brilliant-hued flowers of immense size, far surpassing the parent types, hang down in long, open panicles of rose, rose-red or coral-red. Nothing could be finer for use as backgrounds in Begonia houses.

Three varieties have been named Fair Rosamond, Heart’s Delight and Modjeska. The Begonias are grown in the ground here, but are sheltered by lath-houses which shut off about one-fourth of the light at all seasons, and, being partly covered with delicate-leaved vines, at times shut out fully one-third of the sunlight. In more inland situations these lath-houses, or open sheds of slats, should shut out as much as one-half of the light. They are becoming more generally used in California gardens for Ferns and many classes of plants besides Begonias.

• Classification: Cultivar
• Plant Type: Cane-like
• Origin: America, USA
• Originator: Shepherd
• Date of Origin: 1893