Odyssey3, I bet you are right. It would be a commonly available species or hybrid at that time (1929). An heirloom, even back then, in the original sense of the word. It seems a good match, within the limits of "artistic license". Perhaps the leaves in the painting are a little more spiraled, or the veins a little longer. Maybe? The Sansevieria itself seems a bit stylized. Also, the Beefsteak Begonia is Begonia 'Erythrophylla', or B. hydrocotylifolia x B. manicata. So maybe I saw something of the B. hydrocotylifolia parent in the hybrid? Unless someone has inside knowledge about the plants that Hattie Wood grew, I will be surprised if anyone can get closer. If anyone has any other or better guesses I would of course love to hear them. Odyssey3, I certainly consider this a good enough guess, and if you are interested in something for postage I could send it. I will contact you. If someone comes up with a clearly better answer I could do the same. So if this seems to be right and someone has the "true" beafsteak Begonia, B. 'Erythrophylla', please contact me. I notice that Peppers/Accents for Home and Garden also sells it at a good price. I've done business with them before and was very pleased. So if nobody has it I will contact them or check the listings on the "other" garden forum. Begonia 'Erythrophylla' at Peppers: http://site.mawebcenters.com/accentsforhomeandgarden_1/catalog_i12984577.html?catId=292134 This photo from Pepper's is useful for making the comparison: http://site.mawebcenters.com/accentsforhomeandgarden_1/_images//Begonia_beefsteak_flower.jpg Here is a link that might be useful:

I got two packets so I don't know whether to try two different techniques or break them into groups and try multiple techniques or save some for later????? So much of what I have already sown is up and growing so I am completely out of room. They say the weather will warm up after this next weekend which will free up a lot of space. I had to move everything into the hoophouse because it has been so cold at night - even completely hardy things don't enjoy these temps.

Nice pics. Yes, this is the great 'Blue Diamond' Impatiens - Impatiens namchabarwensis. It is often misspelled as Impatiens namchabawensis. This new species was discovered in the Namchabarwa canyon in Tibet in the summer of 2003 Flowers are bright ultramarine blue, with small white markings at center and yellow in throat. Here is a link that might be useful:

Yes, it is very quiet. This is the latest message and it's over a month old. If you're still out there, I have I. tinctoriae, I. omeiensis, and I. namchabawensis. The last one named, the blue one from southeastern Tibet, I sure hope is coldhardy here, since we have had a severe freeze. I dumped a lot of mulch over it. I hope that was enough. I. omeiensis is just weirdly coldhardy. I. tinctoriae is a tropical species but it produces a huge rootstock below frost level, that is capable of surviving my winters once it is established--which it isn't!! But I have it fairly well protected.