Learn which begonias thrive outdoors in our Bay Area climate and how to grow them alongside your bromeliads. Rita Nordby, a lifelong gardener and longtime member of the Begonia Society, shares what she’s learned from decades of growing and propagating them.

Rita Nordby has been an avid gardener since pulling weeds in the family’s Berkeley garden in the 1960’s. She’s always had an affinity of begonias, propagating her first rhizomatous begonia leaf in her teens. 

She joined the American Begonia Society, the Sacramento Branch and the SF Branch 3 days after retirement,  serving as President for 5 years, is an official ABS Judge, and is Chair for the 2027 National Convention hosted by the San Francisco Branch next year in September. 

Rita spends time in her 1/2 acre garden in Alamo, serves on the Advisory Board at UC Berkeley Botanical Garden, And is winding down on a community garden project in East Oakland for A Diamond in the Ruff, a non-profit transitional home for women and their children. 

She invites you to come to the Gardens at Lake Merritt’s Vireya Garden, a 50% shade house she and Ann Nichols have adopted for the past 5 years.