My only disappointment with any Begonia was a tuberous one, Reiger. The rhizomatous, cane & wax types LOVE the heat, though I can't speak for dry heat. They are fine in mostly shade, but also in spots where there's quite a bit of sun in the morning & evening, shade only mid-day. The leaves get much more colorful, the more sun they get, as long as it's not enough to burn. Is Monterey far from where you live? The Beg in the pic looks deliriously happy.
Agree, cuttings take off so quickly, the plant in your pics, for example, could fill a whole little bed with lovely leaves in a season. Check out some of the beauties people have posted here recently:
http://garden.org/thread/go/34...