Members & their Greenhouses
Ian Rhys Williams       South Wales Area Representative
   Ian has been growing begonias for seven years and has been showing for the last four.  Appointed Area Representative in 2009 and along with his wife Dorothy and a dedicated team of helpers he organises Area Meetings and the Welsh Championship Show.
 He is located in Glynneath, South Wales.

   I began growing un-named bedding begonias about ten years ago after seeing a neighbour's outstanding pots containing begonias in his front garden.
     I joined the N B S; in 2005; after visiting the National at Birmingham. In 2005,the cost of membership was twelve pounds, which was less than the cost of membership for the National Dahlia Society. I was also overjoyed with receiving four quality bulletins a year, no other Society at the time [or since], had such quality bulletins.
   As a beginner at the time, I had never seen such beauty in a flower, even though I had exhibited dahlias at Shows throughout the country for many years previously.
   In 2006 at the National, I exhibited in the Novice and Intermediate Classes for the first time, winning most of the classes. I was hooked and since then have entered the National every year, in the Open Classes.
   In 2008 along with my wife Dorothy I was elected on to the National Begonia Society Committee and since then I have really enjoyed being involved in the running of the Society. Dorothy was co-opted on to the committee also in the same year.
   When I first started growing begonias for exhibition, I had a twelve by eight aluminium Alcoa glasshouse. The number of glasshouses since have risen to four.
   In 2009, the N B S; gave our Area Regional status and that was the beginning of the rapid growth in Area membership. I was honoured by being elected as Chairman at the time by a loyal Area membership.
   Since then, we have held three Shows and each year the size of our Show and number of exhibits has increased significantly each year. The quality of exhibits has also shown marked improvement, as the novices, became more experienced.
   The number of visiting members' of the public to our Show has increased year on year and which has become a regular diary date for many thousands of extra visitors' to Wyevale Garden Centre, at Swansea. Next year [2012], we intend increasing the number of classes yet again in order to cater for a wider range of begonia exhibitors'.
   All this could have not been realised without the support of the N B S; Committee, a hardworking team of local members' and the wider membership, who have travelled across the country from all areas to exhibit and support our Welsh Championship Area Show.
Above all else, without the support of Dorothy, what has been achieved in such a short time, could not have been achieved for sure.

Fanfare

Joyce Mihulka

Lyndsey Murray

Apricot Delight

Nichola Coates

Loise Mae

Coppelia

Tequila Sunrise

View of patio begonias from rear lawn .

Side view of pots containing various begonias.

Front garden- Pots and hanging baskets.

Another view of patio.

Front garden- Devotion, Pear Drop, Helen Harmes, Flamboyant.

Front Garden borders.

Pot containing Pear Drop.

Begonias by night.

Text & pictures by Ian Rhys Williams