If I didn't collect orchids, I think I would be into Begonias. Their endless variety, both of leaf forms and flowers, is fascinating. Here are some pictures taken at the Gaiser Conservatory in Manito City Park in Spokane, Washington, and in the Devonian Botanic Gardens in Devon, Alberta.
6 comments:
Wow Ron,
I'd not realized that there was such variety in Begonias.
I've always liked them and yet we seem to get only a few common ones every year at the garden centers that I had no idea that there could be such a luxury of forms (in leaves and blooms).
You are very good at the contrast. The leaves are shells in some of these pictures and I'd not realized that they were variegated in hues as well (to this extent).
Amazing show Ron.
I don't have to go outside when you do all this traveling for me.
I think some of these Begonias are prettier than the orchids (I know this is heresy in your books but the Begonia flowers almost look like they could be edible -the flowers look like they are made with icing and should be on wedding cakes!)
Thanks for commenting, Julie. The world of nature never ceases to amaze and I am not at all offended by your thinking these are prettier than orchids. They certainly are more attractive as plants (many orchids are actually quite ugly plants and the rest, for the most part nondescript). Many of the orchids I grow have flowers so small it is difficult to appreciate them and that is not true of begonias, though there is not quite the amazing variety in the flowers of begonias that there is in orchids.
These Begonia photos are amazing. Likewise, your Masdevallia photos on Flickr!
Thanks you for your kind comments and for your visit to my blogs. Just visited one of your blogs and was impressed by your ability as a painter. All the best to you!
Ron, some of these photos almost made me blush! Once again, you've captured the delicate beauty of a flower. Nature never ceases to amaze me and you give me a bug's eye view that I might miss otherwise.
Thanks once again, Lou Anne. It is amazing how working with a macro lens opened my eyes to all kinds of things I had never noticed before. It is in many way like seeing the world all over again.
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