BEAUTIFUL BEGONIA

Begonia coccinea is a species of plant in the Begoniaceae family. It is native to the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. There are many hybrids developed from this species and all of them are tall, shade-loving plants, also called collectively "cane begonias". They are popularly grown as ornamentals because of their beautifully shaped and colourful foliage and flowers.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

METSOVO, GREECE

Metsovo is a town in Epirus on the mountains of Pindus in northern Greece, between Ioannina to the north and Meteora to the south. The largest centre of Vlach life in Greece, Metsovo is bypassed by GR-6 and also by Egnatia Odos Motorway. This one of the most picturesque towns in Greece, its traditional stone houses nestling on the steep mountainside. It is the largest Vlach town in Greece and one can her the Vlach language spoken here as well as Greek.

Metsovo is found at 1200 m altitude in an impressive verdant landscape, on the spot that North and South Pindos Mountains separate. Despite the radical growth of tourism in the latest years, the area has not lost its traditional character. It harmoniously combines the past with the present and it is an ideal shelter not only in winter when you will probably see it in snow and enjoy winter sports, but it has much to offer during all of the seasons of the year. 

Being the birthplace of some of some of the most important National Benefactors, Metsovo could not but be famous for its great cultural development. You will admire its museums, the mansions made of stone, the monasteries, the twenty traditional fountains and the cobbled streets. You may also have the chance to attend one of the many cultural events that are organised in the well-appointed conference centre. In addition, you can walk around and enjoy your meal, coffee or snacks in the central square that is surrounded by restaurants and pretty cafés.

More than 200 paintings and sculptures by the great Greek artists of the 19th and 20th century are exhibited in the Averoff Gallery, the most significant cultural space in Epirus. Lytras, Gyzis, Volanakis, Parthenis, Hatzikiriakos-Gikas, Tsarouhis, Moralis, Fasianos, are just a few of the famous artists with works in the collection, housed in a spectacular building with three floors behind the town’s main square.

Finally, there are several areas around Metsovo, each of which has something special to offer. You can visit Anthochori, which has an open air museum of water-driven machinery, Chrisovitsa with Panagia Monastery and its famous potatoes, the villages Anilio and Votonosi, as well as the traditional settlement of Milia on the borders of National Forest.

This post is part of the Outdoor Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the ABC Wednesday meme.

BEGONIA 'CEVECA'

Begonia elatior 'Ceveca' is very distinct from other elatior Begonias, sporting masses of coral pink semi-double flowers with white margins. It is suitable for year-round production and flowering.

It has a compact growth habit and is best suited to 9-13 cm pots. Best used as a patio table plant or as an indoor plant in a bright position. Protect from western sun.

As with all begonias it is important not to over-water them, let the soil surface dry between waterings. Begonias do well from regular feeding, they are sensitive to full strength fertiliser so dilute about a quarter strength and try to keep it off leaves.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

BEGONIA ELATIOR

Begonia is a genus of perennial flowering plants in the family Begoniaceae. The genus contains about 1,400 different plant species. The Begonias are native to moist subtropical and tropical climates. Some species are commonly grown indoors as ornamental houseplants in cooler climates. In cooler climates some species are cultivated outside in summertime for their bright colourful flowers, which have sepals but no petals.

With more than 1,600 species, Begonia is the sixth-largest angiosperm genus. The species are terrestrial (sometimes epiphytic) herbs or undershrubs, and occur in subtropical and tropical moist climates, in South and Central America, Africa, and southern Asia. Terrestrial species in the wild are commonly upright-stemmed, rhizomatous, or tuberous.

Elatior begonias (Begonia x hiemalis) adorn homes across much of America, Europe, South Africa and Australia, as these flowering plants are available year-round from florists and greenhouses. Typically grown as a summer annual, this plant can be grown outside in a sheltered location where temperatures range from 10 to 22 degrees Celsius.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

TUBEROUS BEGONIA

Tuberous begonias (Begonia × tuberhybrida Voss) are a group of Begonia cultivars, regarded as some of the most spectacular of the genus. One of the first hybrids produced was B. x sedenii in 1870, a cross between B. boliviensis, collected by botanist Richard Pearce and a species from the Andes. Another species from Peru, B.davisii (named after Walter Davis), was also used in early breeding. The nomenclature of these begonia hybrids is variable and sometimes confusing.

Tuberous begonias grow best in partial shade or filtered sunlight. Excessive exposure to sunlight can result in burnt flowers and leaves. However, too much shade will result in lush foliage and few flowers. They can give rise spectacular displays of large, showy clusters of flowers and they can be very rewarding to grow.

This post is part of the Nature Footsteps Floral Macros meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme.

DRAGON WING BEGONIA

Begonia is a genus in the flowering plant family Begoniaceae and is a perennial. The only other members of the family Begoniaceae are Hillebrandia, a genus with a single species in the Hawaiian Islands, and the genus Symbegonia which more recently was included in Begonia. "Begonia" is the common name as well as the generic name for all members of the genus. The genus name, coined by Charles Plumier, a French patron of botany, honors Michel Bégon, a former governor of the French colony of Haiti. It was adopted by Carl Linnaeus. As a member of the order Curcurbitales, begonias are related to such food crops as pumpkins / squash, gourds, cucumbers, and melons.

Begonia X hybrida "Dragon Wings" is a heat-tolerant and vigorous, hardy perennial begonia suitable for a wide range of garden situations. It has a glorious pendulous habit with arching branches bearing a proliferation of bright red blooms in spring and summer. The foliage is lush and glossy green.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.