Moon Flowers Celebrate Labor Day!

Here they come!  The Moon Flowers are starting to open.  This is one planting I did not track.  I didn’t keep the seed packet like I usually do and write down the date I planted the seeds, the date they germinated, and the date of harvest (if any).  Dang.  I do know that I didn’t buy the seeds any place fancy.  Most likely Floyd’s Hardware Store or the Rite Aid Drug Store.  I think I must have planted them sometime in July.

The perfume reminds me of soap – a very clean scent.  Too bad it’s too danged hot to keep my bedroom windows open.  These are growing up on a pergola off of my patio.

They are super simple to grow and just need something to climb up like a fence, arbor, trellis, or string.  If you see a pack of seeds for about $1.50, pick them up and give them a try next summer.  Sun and water each day seems to be all these needed.  I’ll post more pictures and the blooms open fully.

Check out the list and see progress.

 

There looks to be a small aphid problem on the blossoms; but it really doesn’t matter much to a flower that only lasts one night.

Moonflower

There are sunflowers in the garden this summer.  They have thrived in the summer sun and are now heavy with heads full of seeds.  Moonflowers were planted too.  The vines are growing from a hanging basket and in the ground.  All are growing skyward.  When are they going to bloom?I’ve never grown them before; but it looks like it could be any night now.  Stay tuned.  Now go sing Moonshadow to yourself just like me.

Bird’s Eye

Early in 2009, a pergola was constructed to create shade.  There was shade before; but the ratty trees that were in this area had to go.  And they did.  Back then there was an unorganized mess surrounding the structure with a pile of bird’s eye gravel to be spread beneath.Wisteria was planted to make the shade more dense during the hot summer.  Family heirloom ferns were transplanted into baskets. Now over two years later, the bird’s eye gravel is a pain in the Croc; but most everything else is moving right along.A basket of mixed plants thrives in the late afternoon sun.  Moon flower vines are creeping up to the top of the pergola.  I’ve never grown moon flowers before and am anxious to experience the perfume they are said to emit at night.All the ferns are as tough as they should be.  Their survival was nothing to worry about.And the wisteria is creating a bunch of thick shade.  The only thing that’s bothersome about the pergola is the bird’s eye.  Not the gravel bird’s eye.The mourning dove’s bird eye is bothersome.  I can’t keep these flying rats out of the stuff.  Scare tape didn’t do the trick.  I can’t blame them though.  It’s a cushy pad.