THE MOON IN BLOOM

THE MOON  (excerpt) - Robert Louis Stevenson

 

“The moon has a face like the clock in the hall; 

She shines on thieves on the garden wall,

On streets and fields and harbour quays, 

And birdies asleep in the forks of the trees."

Mysterious, night-blooming vine in the morning glory family, Ipomea alba was a highlight among tomatoes, butternut squash, peppers and herbs in my little vegetable garden in Harlem. I grew a few plants from seeds collected the previous fall and last summer I was rewarded with an abundance of blossoms. Here are a few more reasons to love the moon.

#1. LOVE IN THE LEAVES 

 Large, medium green heart-shaped leaves soak up the sun's energy to prepare for stages to come.

#2. CURIOUS BEGINNINGS

Young tightly wrapped flowers emerge from curious purple tentacled sepals, elongating with each spiral.

  ENJOY THE JOURNEY THERE.

WAIT 

WAIT

#3. WORTH THE WAIT FOR BEAUTY

  'Heavenly' is the word that best describes moonflower. The large tubular flowers can be 5"-6" in diameter. They are pure white with hints of green and subtle petal venation. 

#4. FOR FRAGRANCE

 Soft evening perfume float on the wing as you walk along West 146 Street in Harlem.

#5. FOR SUSTENANCE

Moonflowers are intoxicating to insects that detect the strong fragrance from far away. Markings on the soft petals guide them towards the long tunnels that lead to nourishing nectar. I have not seen them but bats also love the scent of moonflower and are regular pollinators.

#6. LONG NECK + LONG TONGUE - A PERFECT ECOLOGICAL MATCH

The extremely long proboscis of the sphinx moth is well suited for retrieving nectar which is located at the base of the long throats of moonflowers. The compatible morphology and physiology of both species ensures pollination.

#7. DYING YOUNG AND BEAUTIFULLY

Flowers fade just after one night of radiance but still look lovely with pink flushes.

 #8. PURPLE PEARLS

Beautiful beads of fruit appear and grow more bulbous as they mature.

     

#9. CAPSULES THAT RATTLE WITH THE WIND

Delicate skins enclose pale creamy seeds that resemble pebbles and are almost as hard. Ideally pods should be left on the vine until seeds are mature and rattle when shaken. However, frost damages seeds. Be vigilant and harvest mature pods to dry indoors before frost hits. 

# 10. STARTING AGAIN

Each seed hold the sparks for a new pant. The temperatures and moisture of late Spring are perfectly combined to trigger the beginning of another purposeful, beautiful and abundant new life.