Fuchsia

These gorgeous Fuchsia flowers were growing in a large hanging basket in the ENMAX Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo. Taken on 24 July 2012.

"Fuchsia is a genus of flowering plants that consists mostly of shrubs or small trees. The first, Fuchsia triphylla, was discovered on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (present day Dominican Republic and Haiti) in 1703 by the French Minim monk and botanist, Charles Plumier. He named the new genus after the renowned German botanist Leonhart Fuchs (1501–1566).

There are currently almost 110 recognized species of Fuchsia. The vast majority are native to South America, but with a few occurring north through Central America to Mexico, and also several from New Zealand to Tahiti.

Fuchsias are popular garden shrubs, and once planted can live for years with a minimal amount of care ...."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuchsia

Holy smokes - a storm just moved in (just after 3:00 p.m.) with thunder and torrential rain!