Gary Dando, Area Representative for the South West, along with his wife Joy, are renowned for their begonia displays in the Region. This year, exhibiting at the Amateur Gardening Show at Shepton Mallet, Somerset, they achieved a large gold award with their longest ever stand, some 25 feet. Up against some stiff professional competition, they were also awarded Best in Show.

     Their displays have evolved over the period since I first met Gary some five years ago. At that time the exhibit was predominately large tuberous show plants with a bit of greenery. Now the display incorporates foliage, pendulas and multi flora varieties of begonia. I must take some credit for that, for when Gary first visited me he spotted on a fence two half baskets of Le Flamboyant, that I must add were brilliant. The plug plants were obtained, believe it or not, from Woolmans Chrysanthemums. I have never grown better. Gary immediately commandeered both baskets to enhance his display the week following.

     Since that time multi floras have become more available from garden centres and nurseries, with many new varieties, some breed by our own Dennis Need. (See South West Visit by Ian Rhys Williams for pictures)

     When I visited in the last week of August, prior to the show, I didn’t quite ignore the show begonias but spent time marvelling at the foliage plants. Gary replaced his two old greenhouses last year and at the same time refurbished his other shade houses with the help of John Chiswell. This has given the perfect environment for foliage plants including rex, cane and other varieties. Here is just a selection of the plants which were quite stunning.