Greenelbows, I have 'Frosty Fairyland' from GHW and it is not a small begonia (similar to a beefsteak but has the "eyelashes"). Not sure if it is truly 'Frosty Fairlyland' due to the mistakes that GHW makes. Rob's Violets typically has some very good deals and ships fairly fast too. Some of the begonias they offer are not miniatures though so be forewarned. Case in point is 'Shamus' - it can get quite large (not nelumbiifolia large) but mine is covering a 20 inch round table after 2 to 3 years and the leaf size is over 4 inches across. Accents for Home and Garden is another place to get some small begonias at great prices (much larger pot size than Rob's). Some small ones to consider are bowerae hybrids. The leaf size is usually 1/2 inch or smaller but it can spread to fill a good size pot. I have had problems with lots of begonias from Rob's but typically it has been my fault. If I had provided a good humid environment they seem to thrive but dry basement air does them in usually. The other thing you can do is "bonsai" your plants. Bonsai isn't just for woody plants. For instance I have one very teeny tiny 'Black Coffee' in a Jiffy 7 cube for the last 3 to 4 years. That cube is inside a Solo rinse cup (the ones you see at the dentist's office). I don't know how it is still hanging on inside such a small space but it is. I gave my mother a cutting of 'Black Coffee' and she grew a very large one inside a 8 inch pot. One leaf of it dwarfs the small one I just mentioned. Here are some of my small begonias: 'Red Planet' 'Mazae Dark' 'Little Cleo' 'Last Laugh' I suspect this is going to be much bigger when it grows up 'Baby Dress' I have tried this at least twice in the past. This time it is still in its original pot and still alive after nearly a year. 'Chantilly Lace' I thought I was going to lose my last one so I bought this as a back up. The other one has grown like a weed since I put it in an enclosed environment (acrylic ice bucket with a salad bowl lid). B. hydrocotifolia This is a slow growing, small species. A bowerae hybrid (maybe 'Kit Kat') this is in a small pot so it is contained. The next one I will show you is the same plant in a 6 inch bowl. bowerae hybrid in a bigger pot with a bonus 'Little Brother Montgomery' in the same pot. LBM is pushing the lid off the pot so I may have to move it out soon. I don't know what this is but I like it. 'Othello' or as some eBay seller has it listed -Orthello 'Mazae Dark' in hand 'Little Cleo' in hand 'Butterfly' with 16 oz cup for humidity control 'Black Coffee' in different size pots The blue ribbon winner is my mother's 'Black Coffee' at this year's Southeastern Flower Show. Second place was my 'Cachuma' on the floor.

Hoo boy, Butch, that's a purty Shamus! Mine was doing very well (at least I thought so 'til I saw those pictures!) but I grow most my begonias outside, and I've been having problems this year with a grasshopper-type thing that eats great pieces out of some of them, and also some chiritas. Things tend to do better outside with all the humidity--until the bugs get to work. Ah well--they're basically healthy and will come back. sigh

Hello ladies and happy every Holiday I missed. To those of you who do know me, I am back and mentally back on track (I think). To those of you who don't, well I was I am a member, love everyone here. Went away to do some great mission work and had some very tragic things happen. Many hours of therapy later, and actually returning to the Dominican I think I have healed, I am not bitter, sad, or frightened to leave my house any more. I am able to talk about it and I feel that I can share with postive feelings now. But enough of that. Am I to late for April? Please tell me that I can play in April? Max is 4 and we just looked at Co-op preschool. HE is a mama's boy and didn't want to go to big boy school yet. Maryanne~ I have a box for you that I need to send, but um lost your address.. So Merry Christmas when it comes. Ahh. I just don't know what to say or who to say it to because I am scared I will leave someone out. I tried to read as many posts as my brain can handle, but I am sure that I will need some help. Babies and ornaments, tornados and ahhh.. I am not in Kansas anymore. Please feel free to email me with any personals that you'd love to share. I apologize for being gone so long. If there is anything that you want to know email me. If I need to re-join let me know if there is room. Mayanne_ my big sis.. I hope all is well, miss you and thanks for all your support thru this, even though I was a bad lil sis and became an introvert. But guess what? I am back and better. Missed you all Laura.... beans

Barb...both happy and sad....Happy he is moving forward with his life. Knowing he will go far as long as he stays focused on his studies, and learns to quit being so wasteful. Sad because he is moving on and we will be seeing very little of him in the next 4 years or so. We havent made any new life adventures yet. House needs some TLC. I suppose first we will get used to having a home with just us and the critters and go from there. Chell I used to be a dog and cat groomer. I loved it too. But my employer was a deedeedee. Never had the money to pay me each week and always "owed" me. And she never gave me my tips either.Then at the end of the year she reported more earnings for me than what I had really made.Fortunitly I kept records and proved my case and won, so make sure you don't let the same happen to you. I have kept my clippers, blades and accessories and still will do a neighbors dog or two once in awhile to keep my skills up.....but don't miss the hair stuck in places I did'nt know existed....lol. Love all the pictures the everyone post. Always enjoy seeing ya'lls babies. Regina