When I last visited B&L it was mid March on a grey cold day. What a difference a few weeks makes. Calling in on their Sale and Chelsea pre-show viewing, 9/11th May, the sun was shining brightly. Summer had arrived!  However, the weather has only changed a few days prior.

   The weather had made it an odd season so far for B&L. The delphiniums were two weeks in advance. However, the begonias were the opposite and were a least two weeks behind schedule. So much so that the B&L exhibition at the RHS Spring Malvern Show did not include any begonias this year.

   That being said the show house was a blaze of colour featuring many begonias, old and new.
On the stands were three of B&L’s new 2009 introduction, Olivia, although very much in the early stages of growth. Another to take the eye was a yet unnamed scented seedling.

   The week end is a Mecca for all plant enthusiasts, including many NBS members. Arriving reasonably early on the Friday morning I saw that Cecil Gammon and Davis Elliott from North Devon had already arrived. Shortly after, Gary Dando, SW Area Representative came along accompanied by John Chiswell and Don Dewey. They in turn were waiting for Jack Larter and his party from Lancashire. During the course of the week end many other NBS members no doubt visited.

   It is a couple of weeks until Chelsea and it will be interesting to see what progress the begonias have made in that time. No doubt they will be admired, a usual, by the many visitors to this prestigious event.