Garden Blogger Bloom Day

Hollyhock nigra apparently reseed at some point and is just now, for the first time this summer, blooming.

Nasturtiums were also slow to get going.

Abutilon Pink Parasol, on the other hand, blooms many months of the year.

This container of white wax begonias will soon die back to the soil, to return in the spring. These plants are in their 4th summer.

Other bloomers include two other abutilons, allysum, Solanum jasminoides,  bat faced cuphea, a pink and yellow hollyhock, cosmos, Italian sunflowers, several salvias, lavenders, strawberries, green beans, violas, dianthus, wishful-thinking tomatoes, Rosa Flower Girl, Rosa Demitasse, plumbago, and tulbaghia.

Having been out of town on the 15th, which is the official Garden Blogger Bloom Day, I played catch-up in the garden today. Although I took photos a day early I find myself posting a day late. But that means if you head over to May Dreams Gardens you will see what Carol has blooming. And you can check out Mr. Linky to see what is blooming all over the blooming world!

If You Plant It, They Will Come!

The passionvine, Passiflora caerulea, that grows next to my gate has been a lot of fun this year. First, it was covered in these fantastical flowers. And I do mean covered. Then each flower became a strange green fruit, which turned orange.  

I planted this for the foliage and flowers but began thinking I might have a new taste treat that I hadn't expected. However, when I cracked one fruit open there was no flesh to speak of, although there were some beautiful seeds. I went so far as to taste the seeds and try to scrape some flesh off the skin but it really wasn't worth it. Maybe I need to find a way to juice the seeds.

 

Now there is one more reason to enjoy the vine. It has been discovered by Gulf Fritillaries, which I didn't even know lived here! A beautiful butterfly, I have seen several of them staying close to the vine and, I have to assume, laying eggs on the leaves. Passiflora is the food source for the larval form of the butterfly and my vine has grown happily, maybe even rampantly, providing lots of potential sustenance. 

 Some accounts say the Gulf Fritillary larva can decimate the plant. I will wait and see what happens. It is a very vigorous vine so there may be plenty to share. And the caterpillars are so cool and spiny looking! I can't wait to see some...maybe soon!