I'm just getting back from this year's Garden Fling in Buffalo, N.Y.: an amazing gathering of like-minded garden bloggers and social media mavens. More on that to come in the days and weeks ahead! Meanwhile...
Recently, I'd been thinking this could be the year: the year the Maypops (Passiflora incarnata) overwintered outdoors would bloom.
Five years ago, I planted two sets of Maypops--one in a pot that I've overwintered in the sunroom each year since, and one I planted in the garden below a trellis against the house. While the indoor plant has bloomed the past four years (obviously milder conditions), the outdoor grouping has grown but never bloomed...until now!
Imagine my surprise when we got home, and I peaked behind the foliage on the trellis to find this! Yay!
It was a little bedraggled from scorching in the hot sun without water. (And of course each individual flower only lasts a day or two.)
But after watering, a new bloom opened today, and there are several buds for more flowers in the weeks ahead! I love the way the foliage and flowers snake around supports and structures in the garden. It's such a fascinating plant.
I like the Maypops paired with another surprise this summer--bright pink Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea), also planted from a seed mix a couple of years ago.
While outdoor Maypops die back to the ground in winter in my climate, it appears I can expect these beauties to bloom going forward, even in my USDA zone 5b garden. I'm so glad I planted them!
It was a little bedraggled from scorching in the hot sun without water. (And of course each individual flower only lasts a day or two.)
But after watering, a new bloom opened today, and there are several buds for more flowers in the weeks ahead! I love the way the foliage and flowers snake around supports and structures in the garden. It's such a fascinating plant.
I like the Maypops paired with another surprise this summer--bright pink Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea), also planted from a seed mix a couple of years ago.
While outdoor Maypops die back to the ground in winter in my climate, it appears I can expect these beauties to bloom going forward, even in my USDA zone 5b garden. I'm so glad I planted them!
Well that's a fine welcome back! I love Passiflora blooms. It was wonderful to see you in Buffalo Beth!
ReplyDeleteHey Loree: I'm so glad we had a chance to chat a bit in Buffalo. :) I'm looking forward to next year in Portland!
DeleteI love your Passiflora blooms, Beth! That's another plant I've had relatively little success with. I can't even remember how and when I lost the last one. I've given up entirely on growing hollyhocks here as mildew inevitably takes them out in their infancy.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kris. Years ago, I figured our climate was too cold to overwinter them outside. But I think the fact that they're next to the house...and probably the warming climate...mean that they can survive, re-emerge, and even flower. They are beautiful, fascinating flowers!
DeleteWoah, how great is that! A tough little vine for sure. The flowers are something else, do you see butterflies on them? We got lots of gulf fritillary on ours.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen butterflies on them yet. In previous years, I've seen bumblebees and other pollinators on the plant in the pot. It will be interesting to watch the blooms in the garden. We rarely have gulf fritillaries visit Wisconsin, but it does happen. I guess Passiflora incarnata is a host plant for them, and it's a nectar attractor for other butterflies, too.
DeleteHi Beth, that is amazing. It is so fun when the wait is over, and they do bloom.
ReplyDelete:-)
I could go on and on about how fascinated I am with Passionflowers. But it probably was best just to keep it simple and enjoy the homecoming surprise. LOL.
DeleteBeth-Your Passiflora incarnata blooms are amazing! I am so happy that they bloomed for you, and you were able to share it with us, and what a nice surprise to come home to!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lee. Yes, I'd just mentioned thoughts about how the vines might bloom this year to the Fishman while we were driving home...and then there they were! I figurered eventually the outdoor plants would bloom. Maybe it's because we had an early warm-up in April with plenty of rain. Everything started growing early this year.
DeleteThe passiflora are amazing, I didn't know they could grow up north. So complex!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't sure they would grow (and bloom!) here, either. But someone mentioned trying them in a pot...so I did that and then put some seeds outside. The spot where they're growing is in full afternoon sun and near the house. So it's a bit of a microclimate, to encourage them to survive our cold winters.
DeleteWhat a great surprise! Nice to see that patience has paid off, those flowers are so unique, and vines are always fun.
ReplyDeleteIt was great meeting you in Buffalo even if it was just for a short while. I was part of the 'other' bus lol so our paths didn't cross much!