Dawn's Begonias.

Dawn Wilson (no relation of mine) invited me to call around to photograph some of her Tuberous Begonias. Naturally I was happy to do that, and to post them here for you to enjoy, too,

I shall not bore anyone with the names of any of these plants.

In truth, many are probably hybrids
(seedlings from flowers which Dawn has cross-pollinated herself).
She was doing it today, whenever she found a flower with good pollen.
So these plants are unlikely to be named varieties.

Just enjoy them for the beauty they reveal.

Lovely plants, and relatively easy to grow in Robertson.
 

In Goulburn and more famously in Ballarat, they are grown
in public (Council owned) glasshouses in public parks.

This took my fancy.
A simple flower growing on a tall-growing "cane" Begonia.

a tall-growing "cane" Begonia.

This flower is on a seedling.
As the plant matures, it will probably throw
fully double flowers (like most of these others)

"Begonias are an obvious choice to grow in a semi shaded or shaded area. They are well suited to a wide variety of climates, though excessive cold (eg. frost), direct sunlight or excessive dryness can kill or severely damage most types of begonias. Many will grow well as indoor plants; some are more commonly grown in a shade house or fernery; and others are grown as bedding plants."
Text from "How to grow Begonias" (an Australian website).

I am pleased to see that an old Peony-growing colleague of mine, Martin Farrugia, is still going in the Nursery Industry in Erica, Victoria. These days he is specialising in Begonias and his favourite plant, the Candy Bell (Lapageria). He has good, simple, cultural instructions for tuberous Begonias on his web page.
He starts out saying: "Tuberous Begonias are a cool climate plant, not sub-tropical.
People grow them well in Sydney, Perth and south of these."
"Choose a place where plants like ferns, fuchsias, hostas or cymbidiums grow.
Give them good light, not direct sun (shade cloth ideal). Not too much wind.
Not indoors – Tuberous Begonias need cool nights."
For more information, visit his website:  http://www.candybell.com.au/begonia_culture.htm