Grey winter, bright pink flowers

After a long hiatus I am back! With better images for 2013, thanks to the Canon 5D!

Here is one of my windowsill plants, currently in bloom. And here's the story:

I've been doting over this bizarre, taller growing gesneriad for the past few months, in an effort to see  these strange, fuzzy blooms.  Seemannia purpurascens, named for the purplish appearance of the leaves, is native to South America. It appears that the plant likes to bloom during the cooler weather. The brightly colored flowers adorning this messy looking plant (as it topples over) have brought me a little happiness during this arctic, grey winter here in NYC.

A friend was over recently, and upon seeing the flowers exclaimed, "What are those watermelon-looking things!" They are truly bizarre flowers, bright pink, with a greenish-yellow ring around the opening. Inside, a blurry, backlit pattern is present, that (in my mind) may serve as a lure for potential pollinators.

Thank god for winter bloomers!