In its heyday, Antonelli's would host busloads of appreciative visitors who picnicked under the hanging baskets of begonias. There were thousands of visitors each year. The nursery also sold other types of begonias and related plants, including ferns and fuchsias. I was a frequent visitor myself.

Over time, the Antonelli family sold off most of the land. In the mid-2000s, a fire destroyed much of what was left. Skip Antonelli had died, but the family tried to continue. Unsuccessful, they sold the rest of the land. It's all housing now.

The business was moved to Watsonville, but failed there. The remaining assets were acquired by Golden State Bulb Growers, which recently decided to discontinue growing begonias because of a dwindling market. Golden State is trying to find a buyer for its "mother stock" of begonia plants that were used for hybridizing.

Nice photo at [www.facebook.com]