Denise Conklin inherited her grandmother’s rhizomatous begonia. She named it “Lady L” after Kelton Parker, a renowned Australian begonia researcher, who discovered the type was unknown and so allowed her to name it.

Forty-five years ago, Lady L was passed down to Denise on her wedding day from her mother, who had received it the day she was married in 1918. For Conklin females, it’s tradition.

To this day, the plant lives on in Conklin’s south window – even through near death experiences in connection with fertilizer and vacations. Four years ago, fertilizer managed to wipe out all but four of its hundred or so leaves. Just last year, it went on to win Honorable Mention at the Philadelphia Flower Show.

“She’s going to be even more beautiful for next year’s show,” assures Conklin. How does she know? “I’m going to be an excellent momma to that plant. I have been known to kill a few now and then, but I’m trying to keep it nice and big and healthy.”

And just how does she do that? “Benign neglect.” She lets it dry then waters thoroughly and soon it’ll go out under the trees. “And I’m not going to fertilize it. That’s probably how I almost killed it last time. Begonias have a very fine hair-like root system and they’re sensitive to fertilizer. I know people who fertilize heavily but I’m not one who does and I get better results that way.”

Says the momma in Conklin: “That particular plant versus the ones you buy in the store has a personality. It brings back memories. There’s a memory of a relative in there. A plant like this – from a parent or relative or a friend – has all kinds of special memories and people tend to take better care of it. A plant is like a living memory.”

Lady L is a Victorian style begonia, similar to beefsteak begonias popular in the late 1800s. They are among the oldest begonias grown in the U.S. Victorians grew ferns, begonias, orchids and African violets.