There are many people who can't wait to escape the South in the heat of summer, but I'm not one of them. To me, there is something magical about the heavy air and even heavier fragrances that one finds in the South at night in the summertime. The rest of you can have that cool mountain air....give me Charleston or New Orleans in July......
Recently, the moon vine on the front arbor has just taken off, on its way to completely covering the structure with a blanket of green. It's not even showing buds yet, so there's still a long time to wait for those blooms. Last night I was watering some of the parched things in the Stepchild garden, though, and saw one of those (equally magical) luna moths on the trunk of a sweetgum tree. In my very vivid imagination, I decided it was resting there until the moonvine blooms, so it can help with pollination.
That flower reminds me of a morning glory, is it in the same family?
ReplyDeleteThat is a neat looking moth. Like the moonvine too! Very pretty indeed!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing moth! My moonvine is growing like crazy. I have it in a pot (with a trellis) on my deck so it'll be close by when it blooms, but the little trellis won't hold it. It's spilling over to other plant stands and the deck rail. I can't wait for it to bloom!
ReplyDeleteIt is the same morning glory family, but once you grow this, none of the others compare! The regular morning glories are invasive in the south, but moonvine seems not to be.
ReplyDeleteLOL, I can think of several white flowers but none that have the same awful smell--a smell I happen to like! I also love their cool seedheads!
ReplyDeleteOh, I was excited to see this post. I too have Moon Flowers. No buds on mine either yet. Last year they were wonderful. The heady scent always reminds me of the beach or fresh linen. And I love the way they open up at dusk, like they have this secret night life. It is wonderful. And I have these amazing (ugly - sorry but they are) Hummingbird Moths that come out to feed on them at night. Have you seen them??
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely a Southern plant because for the past ten years I have tried to grow these from seed, even in the greenhouse, and every year they grow a few inches and then just sit there and never a bloom one. Yes I did start a pot of them again this year:o)
ReplyDeleteTim,
ReplyDeleteNice photo of the luna moth. Is moonvine an annual here in New Hampshire? I would like to give it a try.
I love the moonvine. The flower has a star in the middle! I grew it a few years ago. Must try again. Love the lunar moth also. Lot's of moons here today.
ReplyDeleteI've got a moonvine planted on the swing in the backyard. It hasn't bloomed yet this year. I know they're slow. In another month, every night I should have blooms. Combined with datura, it's one of my favorite combinations. I haven't seen any Luna moths, but Sphinx moths are all over the yard because of the datura.
ReplyDeleteI didn't get your emails. Can you try to send from the link on my blog? Thanks.
Moonvine is an annual in GA, and based upon this comment, Layanee has grown it in RI, so it shouldn't be a problem in NH. I start it in the greenhouse here, so I'm sure you would need to start it indoors in NH. It needs hot summer weather to bloom, but mine often goes until frost once it's started.
ReplyDeleteThat is a beautiful vine and the moth is cool. I haven't seen that kind here in Ca. Thanks for sharing...J
ReplyDeleteYou come visit me in Charleston any July that you like. Our moonvines have been amazing this summer!
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