RE: Scent/Moonflower


> You're gonna think I'm weird but...I live in a small midwest farming
> community and in the spring the scent that makes me want to 
> get out in the
> garden is when the first farmer plows his field and the smell 
> of the fresh
> turned earth hangs heavy in the air!

I don't find that a bit strange!
> 
And every year I swear I am 
> going to get a
> Moonflower vine to grow up the trellis on the front porch but 
> they never
> seem to do anything.  I can get them to germinate okay but 
> once they are
> planted outside they just sit there.  Anybody got any ideas?

YES!  I live in the Pacific Northwet (ha!  that was a typo but I decided to
leave it since it is particularly applicable this year -- we just had the
wettest Feb. on record ever).  Anyway.  I tried growing and getting
Moonflower to flower for seven years!  I finally succeeded by planting it
between some large rocks in a southwestern sloped bed.  Basically, it was
hot, dry (though well watered) and the rocks probably held the heat in after
sunset as well.  It does have an indescribable intoxicating fragrance.  Even
having this plan does not ensure success for me each year; if we have a
coolish is summer it grows but never gets to flowering.  Even in a good
year, it will flower a month or so and then it gets too cold here.  I also
start the seed indoors 4-6 weeks before I can plant out.

Now that I've succeeded, I decided to try something else there -- hyacinth
bean vine 'Ruby Moon.'  This same trellis also supports a Mdm. Isaac
Perierre rose (magenty-ink) and the I'm hoping the maroon pods of the bean
vine with the magenta rose will be a show stopper.  We can only dream ;-)

Susan Saxton, zone 6b
For mine is just a little old fashioned garden where the 
flowers come together to praise the Lord and teach all 
who look upon them to do likewise.
Celia Thaxter

I AM in shape.  ROUND is a shape!

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