Behold the begonias

There was a time when dozens of buses would stop in front of his property, just so tourists could “ooh and ahh” at his exceptionally colourful garden.

With the disappearance of the Portland-Yarmouth Scotia Prince ferry, the number of visitors to LeBlanc’s property is a tenth of what it once was. He now notices a lot more Canadian tourists.

The 91-year-old gardener says he’s been growing begonias for the past 20 years. Right now he’s infatuated with large-as-a-dinner-plate begonias that he orders from Ottawa. “They haven’t failed me yet,” he said. “They have heavy stocks, 30 to 40 blooms on each plant and as fast as one flower finishes, another takes its place. They flower from the last of May right into November.”

When the frost begins nipping the foliage it’s time for the bulbs to be lifted, dried and packed away in slightly moistened peat moss in his 50 degree Fahrenheit basement. Next April most will begin sprouting. “Some of them don’t do it easily and you have to practically beg them,” said LeBlanc.

He doesn’t fertilize his begonias, depending instead on the soft, rich soil to nourish them that he’s created over the years by adding seaweed, compost and powdered leaves. He believes in collecting leaves from several varieties of trees as each supplies its own group of nutrients.

The greatest compliment he’s ever received? “One time an American visited and he stretched his arms out wide while looking at the flowers. He said, ‘You know, one time I was watching a sunset and it was so overpowering it was hard to handle. I have the same impression looking at these flowers.’”