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The Coolest Flower I Almost Never Knew I Grew....

alison
15 years ago

Last week, every evening when I walked thru the back yard, I smelled the most incredible scent. Like gardenias, with a hint of a fruity overtone.

It wasn't the roses, it wasn't the nasturtiums, it wasn't the cypress vine or pineapple sage. The penstemon, coreopsis and sedums don't have any scent to mention. The autumn clematis is done for the season, as are the hosta, and ... pretty much everything else.

It was driving me crazy, until I finally noticed a little flash of purple, up near the top of the neighbors 15-foot Rose of Sharon, that grows along our fence. See it?

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Finally remembered that this spring I had splurged on two snail or corkscrew vine (Vigna caracalla) at the Historical Society's heritage plant sale. I'd kinda written them off this summer; nice vines and foliage, but...

Now I realize they've grown up the fence, into the Rose of Sharon next door -- and are blooming their heads off where I can't see them!

I finally was a able to snag a bloom, by standing on the top of my ladder, with a pair of kitchen tongs in hand. It's a really cool flower, and I'll definintely grow it again -- but this time, somewhere where I can see it!

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