When I initially started my garden, I was quite worried about killing things. To tell the complete truth, I’ve killed my share of plants (all by accident, of course), but one plant that never ceases to amaze me is the moonflower.
Since planting my first few moonflower seeds, I was worried that they wouldn’t sprout and when they finally did sprout, I worried that they would be too cramped in the container I was using, and when I realized they would grow without hindrance once I’d placed some stakes in there, I worried that the unforgiving South Florida would do them in for good.
Nothing, and I do mean nothing, that I may have done (or not done) could wipe out these darling flowers. Then, one evening after a long dance class and work out at the gym, I came home to the most beautiful sight: two full moonflower blooms beckoning me with their sweet fragrance.
I wanted to weep with joy–those blooms were the first flowers I’d ever grown myself that made it to maturity and graced me with their beauty. For the next couple of weeks, I was regaled by even more blooms, each starting to unfurl just before sunset each evening and then beginning to shrivel up the following morning just after sunrise.
Oh, let me back up a moment and explain that I had no idea the blooms only lasted for a single evening. Finding that out simply broke my heart because those delicate blooms were just too beautiful to have such a short life span. But, I guess that saying about the brightest stars burning shortest are true.
In any event, I wanted to share with you some photos I’ve taken of my now mature moonflower plant along with the second set I planted once I realized I simply couldn’t mess it up.
Tagged: climbing vines, moonflower