Your begonia is clearly rhizomatous, as I gather in checking google B. barkeri is. I'm not familiar with barkeri, which isn't surprising considering the thousands of begonia species and hybrids! Looks to be a form or hybrid of B. ricinifolia--those soft 'prickles' on the stem and forming a collar at the base of the leaf where it joins the petiole indicate that--but I don't know which one. That might help you find it though. They all take about the same care, which you seem to be providing it already--moist but never soggy potting mix, bright light but little or no direct sun, light fertilizer.

Different purples are common to different areas. An iris that made it to one town and survived tended to get passed around. So although it might be the most common variety in any given area doesn't make it common everywhere - though its a good indication that it is. That said, check out Lent A. Williamson, which seems to thrive all over the place. Oh, and I'm not an expert - yet. But have been studying this topic for several years now and have made many mistakes myself and learned from them. ;) Mike

I've used this treatment a couple different times for bad colds: Cold Socks Treatment: Randall Bradley, N.D. , a naturopath from Omaha Nebraska, frequently uses the cold socks treatment, a long-standing naturopathic therapy for stimulating the immune system. Dr. Bradley finds this treatment to be effective in relieving the symptoms of many upper respiratory conditions such as head and chest colds, earaches, the flu, sore throats and even allergies. With this procedure, he says, relief is often seen within thirty minutes. If it is not, one can repeat the treatment while the patient remains covered and in bed. After four hours or usually by morning, the wet socks should be totally dry, the feet warm and the symptoms gone or much improved. Dr.Bradley says it is effective with both children and adults. Step 1: Soak the foot part of a pair of 100% cotton socks in very cold water and wring them out thoroughly. Step 2: Put the child's feet into a basin or bathtub of hot water, as hot as tolerable without burning. Have the bath deep enough to cover the ankles. Have the child sit on a chair or the edge of the tub, and keep the rest of the body warm. Soak the feet for about 5 to 8 minutes until they are hot and pink. Step 3: Remove the feet from the hot water and pat then dry with a towel. Step 4: Immediately put on the cold wet cotton socks, and then a pair of dry wool socks over those. At this point the patient should be covered and kept warm. Step 5: Have the child go directly to bed, keeping the feet covered throughout the night. According to Dr. Bradley, this therapy will fail if the feet are uncovered, or if the patient walks around or sits in a chair uncovered. Dr. Bradley believes that this home remedy works hemodynamically (by moving the blood to a specific area of the body -- in this case the feet). He suggests that when the blood is drawn away from the head to warm the feet, pressure in the head is relieved. As a result, the symptoms of the illness may disappear, and children usually fall asleep immediately. People who try this remedy will not only feel better the next day, but the treatment may actually boost their immune system, moving them through the illness faster.

I would nix the boots, too. I must tell you a funny story. Years ago we had two company Christmas parties to go to two weeks in a row with many of the same people at both. I ran around finding two different dresses to wear, I couldn't possibly wear the same dress to both. A group of ladies were standing around talking and the subject of the next party came up. One of the ladies was the wife of an executive vice president and she piped up and said "Well I'm sure some of you ladies will be at next weeks party and you will see me in the exact outfit I have on tonight!" I'm standing there thinking.....good for you. And to think, she could well afford a second dress more than I could. So, I would say, wear the same dress if you want to. Nobody will remember unless it's a very unique one of a kind dress that nobody would forget.